The United States and South Korea agreed Friday to increase Seoul ’ s missile capabilities just days after North Korea fired a ballistic missile over Japan and threatened further launches , Seoul ’ s Yonhap news agency reported.
The reclusive state fired an intermediate - range Hwasong - 12 over Japan early on Tuesday , which it said was a mere “ curtain - raiser” for the North ’ s “ resolute countermeasures ” against ongoing US- South Korean military drills.
It came as the US and South Korean forces were nearing the end of the 10 -day annual Ulchi Freedom Guardian joint exercises, which the North regards as a rehearsal for invasion.
US President Donald Trump later insisted that “ all options ” were on the table in an implied threat of pre-emptive military action , while on Thursday US heavy bombers and stealth jet fighters took part in a joint live fire drill in South Korea intended as a show of force.
In phone call Friday , Trump and his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae- in agreed to enhance Seoul’ s deterrence against North Korea by boosting its missile capabilities , Yonhap reported , citing Seoul’ s presidential office , Cheong Wa Dae.
“ The two leaders noted the need to strengthen the Republic of Korea ’ s defense capabilities to counter provocations and threats from North Korea, and reached an agreement in principle to revise the ‘ missile guideline’ to the extent hoped by the South Korean side , ” Yonhap quoted Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Park Soo -hyun as saying.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are at their highest point in years after a series of missile tests by Pyongyang.
South Korean President Moon Jae-In has previously urged limits on Seoul ’ s missiles to be loosened in a conversation with Trump.
Seoul is currently allowed to possess ballistic missiles with a range of 800 kilometres and payload of 500 kilogrammes , but it wants the weight limit raised to 1, 000 kilogrammes.
The Pentagon had said it was “ actively ” considering the revision.
Calls are also mounting in the South for Seoul to build nuclear weapons of its own to defend itself as nuclear -armed North Korea’ s missile stand - off with the US escalates.
The South, which hosts 28 , 500 US troops to defend it , is banned from building its own nuclear weapons under a 1974 atomic energy deal it signed with Washington , which instead offers a “ nuclear umbrella” against potential attacks.
Yonhap added that the two leaders reaffirmed the need to bring Pyonyang back to the dialogue table by applying maximum sanctions and pressure.
However , Trump said after the latest missile test that negotiations with Pyongyang were “ not the answer”.
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