North Korea may have missiles able to threaten US, says South

SEOUL — North Korea has probably developed ballistic missiles capable of threatening the US, and is setting up a network of infiltration posts to be able to more quickly invade its southern neighbour, according to South Korea’s Defence Ministry.

Mr Kim Jong Un’s regime is setting up the invasion posts along the demilitarised zone dividing the countries to be able to rapidly send special forces into South Korea if war breaks out, the ministry said in its latest white paper, released today (Jan 6). North Korea is also expanding its artillery and mechanised forces, while developing submarines capable of carrying ballistic missiles, the paper said.

The bi-annual assessment offers a glimpse into North Korea’s defence strategy as it seems to develop asymmetric capabilities to defend against the more modern forces across its border. Under its songun, or military-first policy chartered by late leader Kim Jong Il, the North has funnelled its limited resources into building weapons systems capable of deterring what it calls US and South Korean hostility.

In his New Year address broadcast Jan 1, Mr Kim Jong Un said he would beef up his country’s war-fighting forces, which includes the development of nuclear weapons. At the same time, he raised the possibility of a summit with South Korean President Park Geun Hye to ease tensions between the two countries more than 60 years after the end of their civil war.

Ms Park welcomed the call for better ties in her cabinet meeting today and said North Korea should follow through with actions to prove its offer is genuine, according to a statement on her office’s website.

North Korea has 1.2 million troops, a growing arsenal of missiles and has successfully detonated three nuclear devices. The country is banned from testing or developing ballistic missiles under sanctions imposed by the United Nations over the nuclear tests it has held since 2006. North Korea and South Korea face each other over one of the world’s most heavily armed borders after their 1950-53 war ended in a truce. BLOOMBERG