Defense Minister Cho Young-gil said before the National Assembly on Wednesday that the North produces and deploys new intermediate ballistic missiles, and continues missile development like engine experiments.

An official at the Defense Ministry said that the new intermediate ballistic missiles have ranges of 3,000 to 4,000km, but the official declined to reveal the number and the deployed locations of the missiles. The Ministry has not officially confirmed the existence of the missiles, and has neither acknowledged nor denied the reports about the development of the missiles. Sources said that the North is building two bases for these new missiles in Yangdok County in South Pyongyang Province and Hochon County in North Hamgyong Province.

A U.S spy satellite detected 10 units of these new missiles and launching sites at the two bases, the sources said. The new intermediate missiles can reach Hawaii and Guam, a U.S strategic stronghold, as well as Okinawa.

In connection with the reduction of U.S forces stationed in Korea, Defense Minister Cho said that the U.S. would notify Korea with a detailed list of to-be-relocated units in mid-July. Through negotiations, he would try to minimize the effects of the USFK relocation on Korea’s security and military strength, Cho said.

The Defense Ministry reported to the National Assembly that in order to ease military tensions between the two Koreas, the ministry would hold regular meetings between the generals of the two Koreas and promote the second round of talks between the two Koreas' defense ministers.

(Yoo Yong-won, kysu@chosun.com )