North Korea rocket has longer range than predecessor: Seoul

North Korea rocket has longer range than predecessor: Seoul

PanARMENIAN.Net - The rocket launched by North Korea at the weekend seemed more powerful than its 2012 predecessor, but Pyongyang still lacks the expertise to transform it into a ballistic missile capable of reaching the U.S. mainland, South Korean officials said Tuesday, February 9, according to AFP.

The comments came as leaders of South Korea, the United States and Japan discussed how to punish the North for its latest defiant launch and nuclear test, eyeing "strong and effective" UN sanctions.

The rocket, carrying an Earth observation satellite, blasted off on Sunday morning and, according to North Korean state TV, achieved orbit within 10 minutes.

A South Korean defense ministry official said on condition of anonymity that the latest rocket was similar to the Unha-3 launched in December 2012 but was believed to have an enhanced range of some 12,000 kilometres.

The older version of the rocket had an estimated range of some 10,000 kilometres.

He was quick to emphasize, however, that the North has yet to master key technology needed to turn the rocket into an inter-continental ballistic missile, which would require a re-entry vehicle to protect the warhead from heat.

He added that the three-stage rocket was confirmed to have put an object into orbit but officials had yet to verify whether the purported satellite was functioning.

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