SEOUL: South Korea has deployed new cruise missiles capable of destroying targets such as missile and nuclear bases anywhere inNorth Korea, the defence ministry said Thursday.
The ministry released a video clip of the test-launch of the missiles, saying they could hit "any place" in the North.
"With such capabilities, our military will sternly and thoroughly punish reckless provocations byNorth Koreawhile maintaining our firm readiness," Major General Shin Won-Sik told reporters.
The ministry gave no details of the range, but Yonhap news agency said the new cruise missile could travel more than 1,000 kilometres (625 miles).
Cruise missiles are not covered by a US-South Korean agreement limiting the range of the South's ballistic missiles.
The South is pressing to extend the range followingNorth Korea's long-range rocket launch last week.
The two allies are said to be close to agreement on revising the 2001 deal that restrictsSeoul's ballistic missile range to 300 kilometres (185 miles).
TheUnited Statesstations 28,500 troops in the country and guarantees a nuclear "umbrella" in case of war. In return,Seoulaccepts limits on its missile capabilities.
The North has about 600 Scud missiles capable of hitting targets inSouth Korea, and possibly also of reaching Japanese territory in some cases, according to South Korean military data.
There are another 200 Rodong-1 missiles that could reachTokyo. In addition the North has three times test-launched long-range Taepodong missiles.
Its April 13 launch -- purportedly to put a satellite into orbit -- failed but the UN Security Council "strongly condemned" the launch.
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