South Korea May Double Missile Warhead Weight To Combat North

Seoul is likely to double its missile warhead weight as US has agreed Monday “in principle” to remove a warhead weight limit on its missiles.

However, the missiles would still be bound by a flight range cap of 800 km as no changes to the flight range were mentioned in the Blue House statement.

Under the existing missile agreement between the United States and South Korea, Seoul’s warheads currently face a cap of 500 kg (1100 lb). The agreement that was last amended in 2012, is in the process of being changed in the wake of a series of missile tests by North Korea this year.

During a call with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, Us President Donald Trump also gave “conceptual approval” for South Korea to buy multi-billion dollars worth weapons from the United States.

Both the countries agreed to apply the strongest sanctions and pressure on North Korea through the United Nations, South Korea’s presidential office was quoted as saying by  Reuters Monday.

The UN Security Council should seek ways to sever North Korea’s foreign currency income, including from its workers employed abroad and oil shipments, Moon said in a separate phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin Monday.

North Korea said it tested an advanced hydrogen bomb for a long-range missile on Sunday, prompting global condemnation and a US warning of a military response if it or its allies were threatened.

Most analysts and policymakers agree cutting off supplies of oil to North Korea would hurt its economy. However, there is clear stance from China, the North’s biggest ally and trade partner, if it would cooperate.

South Korea said earlier that it was talking to the United States about deploying aircraft carriers and strategic bombers to the Korean peninsula due to increased possibility of North Korea launching more missiles.