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NEW YORK -- According to the Thursday edition of the New York Times, the U.S. government is not concerned about North Korea¡¯s new mobile ballistic missiles because they cannot reach the U.S. mainland.
Citing U.S. government officials, the paper said, "North Korea does not have a submarine capable of carrying the missile to within striking range of the continental United States. Officials also expressed doubts that the North Korean government had developed the missile for the purpose of hiding it inside freighters to be sailed closer to this nation's shores for launch."
The paper also said that U.S. government officials once released reports in September 2003 that North Korea had engaged in developing Russian missiles.
According to the paper, the missiles with the maximum striking range of 2,600 miles, or 4,184 kilometers, if launched from North Korean soil, may threaten American forces on Guam and Okinawa. A U.S. government official said on conditions of anonymity, however, that there are no way the missiles can hit the mainland.
The paper pointed out that the North¡¯s development of missiles raises questions on whether Russians or other scientists helped North Korea develop the missiles.
(Kim Jae-ho, jaeho@chosun.com )
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