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| North Korea Tests Rocket Launcher With Range Beyond Seoul, South Says | North Korea Tests Rocket Launcher With Range Beyond Seoul, South Says |
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| SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea on Tuesday tested a new multiple-rocket launcher with a range long enough to strike major American and South Korean military bases south of Seoul, South Korean military officials said. | |
| Four rockets were launched Tuesday afternoon from Wonsan, a coastal city east of the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, flying 96 miles to the northeast before crashing into the sea between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, a South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman said. | Four rockets were launched Tuesday afternoon from Wonsan, a coastal city east of the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, flying 96 miles to the northeast before crashing into the sea between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, a South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman said. |
| The spokesman said his ministry had determined that the rockets were fired from a new multiple-rocket launcher that North Korea had been developing. He spoke on the condition of anonymity, citing ministry policy. | The spokesman said his ministry had determined that the rockets were fired from a new multiple-rocket launcher that North Korea had been developing. He spoke on the condition of anonymity, citing ministry policy. |
| Earlier on Tuesday, North Korea tested an older multiple-rocket launcher, firing three rockets that flew 34 miles off its east coast, the spokesman said. | Earlier on Tuesday, North Korea tested an older multiple-rocket launcher, firing three rockets that flew 34 miles off its east coast, the spokesman said. |
| The tests are seen as Pyongyang’s latest show of force as the United States and South Korea conduct annual joint military exercises, to which the North strongly objects. On Thursday, North Korea fired four short-range ballistic missiles that traveled 124 miles from its east coast. On Monday, it fired another short-range ballistic missile that flew 310 miles. | The tests are seen as Pyongyang’s latest show of force as the United States and South Korea conduct annual joint military exercises, to which the North strongly objects. On Thursday, North Korea fired four short-range ballistic missiles that traveled 124 miles from its east coast. On Monday, it fired another short-range ballistic missile that flew 310 miles. |
| “We believe this is an intentional provocation to raise tensions,” the South Korean ministry spokesman said Tuesday. | “We believe this is an intentional provocation to raise tensions,” the South Korean ministry spokesman said Tuesday. |
| Despite its moribund economy, North Korea has been conducting a vigorous missile and rocket program, and it has been trying to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile. But the apparent test of the new rocket launcher on Tuesday set off special interest in South Korea. | Despite its moribund economy, North Korea has been conducting a vigorous missile and rocket program, and it has been trying to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile. But the apparent test of the new rocket launcher on Tuesday set off special interest in South Korea. |
| Apart from its nuclear arms, North Korea’s multiple-rocket launchers and artillery pieces are the weapons most feared in the South. The North is estimated to have 13,000 of them clustered on the inter-Korean border, just 28 miles north of Seoul; the North’s occasional threats over the years to turn the South Korean capital into a “sea of fire” are presumed to be references to these weapons. | Apart from its nuclear arms, North Korea’s multiple-rocket launchers and artillery pieces are the weapons most feared in the South. The North is estimated to have 13,000 of them clustered on the inter-Korean border, just 28 miles north of Seoul; the North’s occasional threats over the years to turn the South Korean capital into a “sea of fire” are presumed to be references to these weapons. |
| The North’s older, 240-millimeter multiple-rocket launchers have a range of 37 miles, putting Seoul and its 10 million people within range of rockets fired from the border. Partly for this reason, the United States and South Korea have situated major air force and other military bases well south of the capital. | The North’s older, 240-millimeter multiple-rocket launchers have a range of 37 miles, putting Seoul and its 10 million people within range of rockets fired from the border. Partly for this reason, the United States and South Korea have situated major air force and other military bases well south of the capital. |
| But South Korean military intelligence has long suspected the North of developing a longer-range rocket launcher that could reach some of those bases, including those in the Osan-Pyeongtaek hub about 60 miles south of Seoul, where the United States has been relocating many of its bases from around South Korea. | But South Korean military intelligence has long suspected the North of developing a longer-range rocket launcher that could reach some of those bases, including those in the Osan-Pyeongtaek hub about 60 miles south of Seoul, where the United States has been relocating many of its bases from around South Korea. |
| The United States and South Korea have been building up their ability to counter the North’s rocket and artillery threat in recent years, especially since the North’s artillery attack on a South Korean border island in 2010, which killed four people. | The United States and South Korea have been building up their ability to counter the North’s rocket and artillery threat in recent years, especially since the North’s artillery attack on a South Korean border island in 2010, which killed four people. |
| South Korea recently deployed Israeli-designed Spike missiles and their mobile launchers on its western border islands. The Spike missiles, with a range of 12 miles, target North Korean coastal guns and rocket batteries. But the range of North Korea’s new 300-millimeter multiple-rocket launcher means that the North can keep the launchers outside the range of the Spike missiles and still be able to hit Seoul, officials here said. | South Korea recently deployed Israeli-designed Spike missiles and their mobile launchers on its western border islands. The Spike missiles, with a range of 12 miles, target North Korean coastal guns and rocket batteries. But the range of North Korea’s new 300-millimeter multiple-rocket launcher means that the North can keep the launchers outside the range of the Spike missiles and still be able to hit Seoul, officials here said. |