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SKorea to buy radar to detect NKorea missiles
Seoul (AFP) June 26, 2008 South Korea's defence ministry on Thursday approved a project to buy an advanced radar system capable of detecting North Korean ballistic missiles, officials said. The green light came at a meeting between Defence Minister Lee Sang-Hee and senior military policymakers and procurement officials, Lee's office said. The radar project is part of Seoul's efforts to build its own missile defence system, it said. South Korea plans to buy second-hand US-made Patriot missiles from Germany this year. Japan has joined the US-led missile shield against possible attacks from North Korea, which test-fired a long-range missile over Japan and into the Pacific in 1998. But Seoul has not taken part in the scheme, citing cost issues and the fact that the scheme is not suited to South Korea's needs. "We hope to set up the system this year after receiving proposals from foreign firms in August or September," a spokesman for the Defence Acquisition Programme Administration told AFP. He said his agency is interested in US, French or Israeli radar. "The new radar system will help us detect any ballistic missile fired by North Korea at its early stages." Military experts say the North's missile development poses a major threat to regional security on top of its nuclear ambitions. Experts say the North has developed Scuds as well as longer-range Rodong and Taepodong missiles which can hit targets in Japan as well as South Korea. In July 2006 the North test-fired seven missiles including the Taepodong-2, which in theory could reach the US west coast. It carried out its first and only nuclear test in October 2006 but experts are unsure whether it could make an atomic missile warhead. Related Links Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com All about missiles at SpaceWar.com Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
BMD Focus: Sarkozy's vision -- Part 1
Washington (UPI) Jun 26, 2008 French President Nicolas Sarkozy has a vision to protect France from nuclear ballistic missile attack, and he is determined to implement it. |
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