South Korea says North doesn't have ICBM re-entry technology

 

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reacts with scientists and technicians of the DPRK Academy of Defence Science after the test-launch of the intercontinental ballistic missile Hwasong-14 in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang July 5, 2017. KCNA/via REUTERS

 

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's intelligence agency does not believe North Korea has secured re-entry capabilities for its intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) programme, a South Korean lawmaker said on Tuesday, disputing Pyongyang's account.

 

North Korea launched what was said to be a nuclear-capable ICBM last week as it presses on with its nuclear and missile programmes in defiance of United Nations sanctions.

 

Pyongyang's state media said last week's test successfully verified the atmospheric re-entry of the warhead loaded on the test-launched missile, which experts say may be able to reach the U.S. state of Alaska.

 

However, Yi Wan-young, who is also a member of South Korean parliament's intelligence committee, told reporters during a televised briefing that South Korea's National Intelligence Service has not been able to confirm that re-entry was successful.

 

"Considering how North Korea does not have any testing facilities (for re-entry technology), the agency believes (North Korea) has not yet secured that technology," he said.

 

Yi said the agency believed the missile launched last week was a modified version of the KN-17 intermediate range missile that was tested in May.

 

He also said the agency had not detected any unusual activity at North Korea's Punggye-ri nuclear test site.

 

(Reporting by Se Young Lee; Editing by Paul Tait)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-07-11

North Korea is still doing way too many tests for any one to relax about.    This  young paranoid leader could do almost anything he wants as he has no one in NK who will sacrifice their life to take him out.  I still think that China could do more if it wanted to, but will not until it is too late.

Geezer

R U willing to bet your country's 

future on this information??

                          Maybe it does, maybe it doesn't.  It doesn't help that the N.Korean engineers are sharing info with Pakistani experts and who-knows who else.   One of the first things Trump did as prez-elect was call Pakistan prez and tell him what a great country Pakistan is and how its people are the greatest.   Trump probably couldn't even find Pakistan on a world map.   The same country which harbored O.B.Laden for years.

 

                              Anyhow, does S.Korea know whether the northerners have chemical weapons or bio-weapons?   Would N.Korea say if it does?   Would N.Koreans hesitate from using chemi or bio if their country was threatened with becoming a series of giant glowing craters?  

Oddly the South Koreans aren't concerned with a nuclear-armed North Korea in so far as it won't use them against South Korea. Not if North Korea wants to unify the South and North, absorb all its industries and enslave its population. It may be for that reason that South Korea allowed only two US anti-missile launchers under protest by the South Korean people and rejected setup of two more launchers.

 

 

On 7/11/2017 at 3:26 PM, webfact said:

"Considering how North Korea does not have any testing facilities (for re-entry technology), the agency believes (North Korea) has not yet secured that technology,"

Can't be tested on their behalf by Pakistan and Russia?

Believing something without confirmation is hardly a good basis for policy-making. One should otherwise assume the worst case scenario.

My re-entry technology seems to be increasingly unreliable. Maybe testing at a specialist testing facility would be a good idea!

11 hours ago, boomerangutang said:

                          Maybe it does, maybe it doesn't.  It doesn't help that the N.Korean engineers are sharing info with Pakistani experts and who-knows who else.   One of the first things Trump did as prez-elect was call Pakistan prez and tell him what a great country Pakistan is and how its people are the greatest.   Trump probably couldn't even find Pakistan on a world map.   The same country which harbored O.B.Laden for years.

 

                              Anyhow, does S.Korea know whether the northerners have chemical weapons or bio-weapons?   Would N.Korea say if it does?   Would N.Koreans hesitate from using chemi or bio if their country was threatened with becoming a series of giant glowing craters?  

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Korea_and_weapons_of_mass_destruction#Biological_and_chemical_weapons

On 7/12/2017 at 7:06 PM, Grouse said:

My re-entry technology seems to be increasingly unreliable. Maybe testing at a specialist testing facility would be a good idea!

Each N.Korean missile could be solid-fuel powered by burning black-market viagra pills.  They could buy 'em for $2 per 4-pill packet at the Yalu River border town.  

 

Testing facility for people with Grouse's issue:  an overripe cantalope, perchance?  

it takes all types. . . . . . .

 

npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/07/13/537043822/texas-police-make-odd-withdrawal-from-atm-a-man-who-was-trapped-inside