SEUL - The South Korean Defense Minister Lee Sang-Hee confirmed that North Korea is building a new site for launching long-range missiles, political advisers indicated.
Long-range Missiles
"We are alert about it ... nearly 80 percent of the work has already been done and we are watching this closely," said the advisers quoting Lee in a speech during a closed-door parliamentary committee meeting of Defence. The minister was responding to an MP who asked him whether it was true that the communist country installed a second site for testing and launching intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
The minister did not give further details, the consultants added.
On Wednesday, an independent analyst American, who saw pictures of the site, said that North Korea installed a second site for testing and launching intercontinental ballistic missiles.
"The complex is designed to be an important test program launch," said John Pike, director of GlobalSecurity.Org, a research group that specializes in security matters.
"It is significant because it shows an intention to develop the capacity to build an intercontinental ballistic missile infallible," he told AFP.
Around China
Pike added that the missile launch site was discovered in the west coast of North Korea near China by Joseph Bermudez, an analyst Jane's Intelligence group.
There is also a site for smaller ICBM in Musudan-ri on the east coast.
North Korea used this site to launch Taepodong-1 missile over Japan in 1998. A Taepodong-2 missile was launched from there in 2006, but failed.
Pike said the new site is much larger, more elaborate and with better transport links.
"It's done to make three or four launches per year, instead of every decade," he said.
"The place has a facility for standard tests, a dynamic facility and a relatively sophisticated system for ICBM launch or launches," he said.
North Korea conducted a nuclear test in 2006. It is not known if you have the technical capability to place a warhead on the missile.
