South Korea tests missile with warning to North

By Alex Jensen

SEOUL

South Korean President Moon Jae-in Friday oversaw a missile test, which his office said was “aimed at sending a clear warning against North Korea's repeated provocations.”

The indigenous missile known as Hyunmoo-2 has an estimated range of 800 meters that covers all of the North, and will be deployed following two more tests.

Having witnessed the launch 200 kilometers (124 miles) southwest of Seoul, Moon said he had “personally confirmed that the people may be at ease” following a series of North Korean missile tests this year alone.

“It will be a key component in our kill chain to counter possible North Korean missile attacks,” the president’s spokesperson told reporters in comments carried by local news agency Yonhap.

Moon has been clear in his desire for dialogue while insisting on the reclusive state’s denuclearization.

The South Korean leader is set to hold a first summit meeting with his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump in Washington next week, with the threat posed by North Korea set to feature high on their agenda.

Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff also said the military is keeping a close watch on the North amid reports that Pyongyang has conducted a further rocket engine test geared towards a possible launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the U.S. mainland.