S.Korea may test-fire new ‘high-power’ ballistic missile in near future: Source

SEOUL: South Korea is looking to test-launch a new “high-power” ballistic missile in the near future, an informed source told Yonhap news agency Wednesday, in a move to bolster deterrence against evolving North Korean military threats.The country has been working on the development of the missile, known as Hyunmoo-5, as a core asset of its deterrence capabilities.Earlier in the day, speculation emerged that the state-run Agency for Defence Development may test-fire it at its Anheung test site in Taean, 150 kilometres southwest of Seoul, on Friday due to a navigational warning applicable to nearby waters for Friday and Saturday.But the defence ministry said there is no plan for any maritime live-fire training Friday, apparently hinting the plan for the missile test might have been cancelled or delayed.The missile is known to be capable of carrying a warhead weighing 8-9 kilogrammes with a thrust of 75 tonne-force, and of descending at a speed of Mach 10 after reaching an apogee.Its maxi