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DPRK seems poised to launch Rodong ballistic missiles: S.Korea

Xinhua, March 3, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) seemed poised to launch Rodong ballistic missiles via mobile launchers after firing two short-range missiles in an apparent protest against the start of South Korea-U.S. joint annual war games, Yonhap News Agency reported Tuesday citing an unnamed source.

Signs were detected a few days ago that the DPRK deployed two of its transporter erector launchers (TELs) from a Rodong missile station in North Pyongan Province, the government official was quoted as saying.

The South Korean military is closely monitoring whether the DPRK actually launches the medium-range missiles through the mobile launchers in northwestern DPRK, the official said.

The possibility for another launches came after Pyongyang fired two short-range missiles on Monday when South Korea and the United States kicked off their joint annual military exercises code-named "Key Resolve" and "Foal Eagle."

In 2014, the DPRK launched two of its single-staged ballistic missiles with an estimated range of 1,300 kilometers on March 26, about a month after the South Korea-U.S. joint war games kicked off. On Feb. 27 and March 3, 2014, Pyongyang also fired two short- range missiles to protest against the drills, which Seoul has described as being of "defensive" nature.

The DPRK is estimated to have some 200 Rodong missiles, which were adopted in 1997. The missiles are believed to have a payload capacity of 700 kilograms.

The Rodong missiles mounted on the mobile launchers are hard to detect when being fired, putting more threats to security for South Korea. The DPRK reportedly has about 40 mobile launchers for short-range Scud missiles, 40 launchers for medium-range Rodong missiles and 14 launchers for long-range Musudan missiles.

In 2015, the "Key Resolve" command post exercise will be held from March 2 to March 13, with the mobilization of about 10,000 South Korean troops and 8,600 U.S. forces.

The "Foal Eagle" field training exercise will be conducted from Monday to April 24, with the involvement of about 200,000 South Korean troops and 3,700 American soldiers, including 3,500 U.S. forces from overseas.

An unnamed spokesman for the DPRK's General Staff of the Korean People's Army issued a statement on Monday, warning of "toughest measures" to retaliate against the military exercises saying the DPRK armed forces "will never remain a passive onlooker" to the drills. Endi