Disarmament Diplomacy

Issue No. 41, November 1999

Clandestine South Korea Missile Development Programme Reported

On November 14, a report in The New York Times alleged that South Korea had not informed the United States of plans to develop a ballistic missile with a range in excess of a 187 mile (300 kilometre) maximum agreed between the two countries. The report suggested that South Korea has been carrying out clandestine work on a missile with a maximum range of 312 miles (500 kilometres) - an aspiration first politically articulated to President Clinton by President Kim Dae-jung in July this year. The report quoted Yoon Joe Shim, an official at South Korea's Embassy in Washington, as denying any subterfuge: "I believe we have kept transparency in the missile field with the United States."

Robert Einhorn, US special advisor on non-proliferation, discussed the issue during a November 18-20 visit to Seoul - see next News Review for details.

Reports: Korea, US to discuss missile range, Korea Times, November 12; US concerned about S. Korea missile program - NYT, Reuters, November 14; S. Korea develops new missile, Associated Press, November 15.

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