The United States indicated Tuesday that it presently does not plan to give South Korea permission to field improved missiles as defense against North Korea's missile and nuclear capabilities, the Yonhap News Agency reported (see GSN, June 29).
Seoul is expected to ask the Washington to renegotiate an accord banning South Korea from using missiles that exceed certain range and payload capabilities. The agreement was last renegotiated in 2001, when the permitted range of South Korean missiles was upped to 186 miles from 112.
The weapons are also allowed to carry payloads weighing up to roughly 1,100 pounds.
Gen. Walter Sharp, commander of U.S. forces in South Korea, suggested that a further allowance is not in the works.
"There's been no request to do that," he said, "and I really don't see a need for that right now" (Hwang Doo-hyong, Yonhap News Agency I, July 15).
The South Korean Defense Ministry on Wednesday brushed off the general's remark, Yonhap reported.
"As far as we can see, this is an issue to be discussed between the working-level officials of South Korea and the United States," said ministry spokesman Won Tae-jae. "I do not believe we need to give Commander Sharp's comment much weight" (Yonhap News Agency II, July 16).