South Korea to join MTCR this month

Seoul will this month join the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), an international accord designed to prevent the proliferation of equipment capable of transporting weapons of mass destruction like nuclear bombs and related technologies, a high-ranking government official said Monday.

``The 32 MTCR member countries are expected to endorse South Korea`s entry during a provisional general congress to be held in Paris on Mar. 26-27,`` he said.

MTCR was launched in 1987 as a ``control rule`` against exports and technology transfers involving missiles with a range of more than 300 kilometers and a payload exceeding 500 kilograms. However, member countries can share information on missiles and private satellite technologies, the official said.

Boo Hyung-Kwon bookum90@donga.com