- Title: South Korea says analysis is under way on North Korea's latest missile test
- Date: 13th September 2021
- Summary: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (FILE) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF SOUTH KOREA'S DEFENCE MINISTRY SOUTH KOREAN NATIONAL FLAG (CENTRE) AND MILITARY FLAGS
- Embargoed: 27th September 2021 03:56
- Keywords: North Korea South Korea defense ministry missile reaction test unification ministry
- Location: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
- City: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
- Country: South Korea
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Conflicts/War/Peace,Military Conflicts
- Reuters ID: LVA001EUJWCW7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: South Korea said on Monday (September 13) that it is cooperating with the United States on a detailed analysis with regards to North Korea's latest missile test.
Earlier in the day, the North's state media reported that it had carried out successful tests of a new long-range cruise missile over the weekend, seen by analysts as possibly the country's first such weapon with a nuclear capability.
"As you know, the military hotline between the South and North Korea is not working normally - this is my answer," said South Korea's defense ministry's spokesman during a regular news briefing on Monday when he was asked if North Korea had informed the South before the test. Lee Jong-joo, spokeswoman of the Ministry of Unification, which handles inter-Korean affairs, said the ministry is working on monitoring the North's movements.
It was seen as the North's first missile launch after it tested a new tactical short-range ballistic missile in March. North Korea also conducted a cruise missile test just hours after U.S. President Joe Biden took office in late January.
It is unclear whether North Korea has mastered the technology needed to build warheads small enough to be carried on a cruise missile, but leader Kim Jong Un said earlier this year that developing smaller bombs is a top goal.
(Production: Dogyun Kim, Heejung Jung) - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2021. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None