U.S. Approves Sale of Harpoon Missiles to S.Korea

The U.S. State Department approved the sale of new Harpoon missiles with an estimated value of US$110 million to South Korea on Wednesday, according to the Pentagon on Wednesday .

The deal is for a package of UGM-84L Harpoon Block II missiles and Harpoon Block II missile kits.

The new Harpoon missile was developed by McDonnell Douglas but is made by Boeing. It can be launched from a submarine to strike a ship or a ground target and has a range of 248 km, two times longer than an earlier version.

The South Korean Navy will probably use it as a submarine-to-ship missile, but it could theoretically strike anywhere in North Korea.

The Navy already has an older Harpoon missile deployed on submarines.

The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Seoul "intends to use the Harpoon Block II missiles to supplement its existing Harpoon missile capability. The acquisition of the Harpoon Block II missiles and support will supplement current weapon inventories" and bring anti-missile performance "up to existing regional baselines."

The two countries have yet to sign the formal contract. The exact number has not been disclosed, but in 2012 the Pentagon said Seoul asked for 18.

They cost a whopping $1.2 million each.

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