North Korea Can Test-fire its Ballistic Missile Over the U.S. Homeland at Any Time

According to Stephen G. Rademaker, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control on December 17, North Korea has been developing a multi-step Deapodong-2 missile that can reach the United States and has the ability to test-fire its ballistic missile at any time.

Assistant Secretary of State Stephen G. Rademaker insisted on it that day in his speech before the National Committee on American Foreign Policy, a civilian research institute.

His speaking came out two days after the U.S. Department of State announced its failure to test-fire its missile defense system, and it appears that his mention is to put emphasis on the need for a missile defense system. The Assistant Secretary explained that if North Korea uses a Daepodong-2 missile with a three-step rocket, it could carry an object weighing hundreds of kilograms 15,000 kilometers.

Soon-Taek Kwon maypole@donga.com