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North Korea tests ignition for missile that could reach US

North Korea has carried out an engine ignition test for a missile believed to be capable of reaching the US west coast, a South Korean newspaper said yesterday.

Quoting intelligence sources, Chosun Ilbo reported that the engine was presumed to be for the Taepodong-2 missile with a range of 6,700km.

It said the test was conducted at a missile launch site being developed on the west coast whose existence was publicly reported last week.

“A US spy satellite, KH-12, spotted that rocket engine tests took place at Tongchang-ri this year,” one source told Chosun, adding the site was near completion.

Another source told the paper the North had sporadically conducted engine tests in a continuing attempt to develop long-range missiles since its failed test-firing of a Taepodong-2 in July 2006.

The North has another site at Musudan-ri on the east coast that was used to launch a Taepodong-1 missile in 1998 over Japan. The Taepodong-2 was launched there in 2006 but the US said it failed after about 40 seconds.

It is not known if the North has the technical capacity to fit an atomic warhead to a missile.

Chosun said work began several years ago on the new site on the west coast in North Pyongan Province opposite China and it would be completed next year.

Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee told parliament on Thursday that Seoul was closely watching the new missile launch site, which was 80 percent completed.

John Pike, director of research group GlobalSecurity.Org, told US reporters last week the new site was designed to support a significant flight test program.

“It is significant because it indicates an intention to develop a capability of developing a reliable ICBM [intercontinental ballistic missile],” Pike said.

Pike said the new site was much larger and more elaborate than Musudan-ri.

“It is set up to do a launch three or four times a year, rather than every decade,” he said.

He said the main launch pad on the west coast appeared a year or two away from completion.
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