Seoul: N Korea can probably strike US west coast

http://www.euronews.com/ North Korea has probably developed long-range missiles that could hit the United States, according to the South Korean defence ministry.

They came to the conclusion after analysing parts of a North Korean rocket that was launched earlier this month.

The South Korean navy retrieved the first stage of the rocket that fell into the sea off its west coast.

Scientists estimate it has the capacity to fire a half tonne payload 10,000 kilometres.

There have been long-held suspicions in the west that North Korea had this type of technology.

The UN has banned North Korea from testing missile or nuclear technology after nuclear weapons tests in 2006 and 2009.

The UN Security Council condemned the launch on Dec 12, 2012, though North Korea said the mission was simply to put a weather satellite in orbit.

Experts say the north is still years away from making a nuclear device small enough to mount on a missile, and they say there is no evidence that North Korea had perfected the technology to protect a warhead from re-entry into the earth's atmosphere.

In Pyongyang, state media reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un wanted to develop rockets with ever bigger carrying capacity.

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[Atrollin2]

No they didn't, you clearly don't know what you're talking about.

[Steven ryu]

Russia could have nuked USA back in cold war. They have more ICBMs with nuclear MIRVs than USA with longer ranges. LOL

[Atrollin2]

Actually, sending people into space is their version of bonfire night...

[Atrollin2]

Yes, for a country with an economy about 10x larger the entire African continent and something like 40% of the world's defence budget ($0.7tn), 2000 active nukes isn't difficult to imagine.

Just look it up, it will take you two minutes, which is only one pointless video you'll miss, and will stop you sounding like a douche bag.

[Steven ryu]

2000 active nukes? lol

[Alan Mitchell]

But the tin can goes beep, boop beep, its really cool!

[Alan Mitchell]

Hahaha they can hit the US with they paper mache missle how funny what a load of idiots...

[Atrollin2]

Not active, America and Russia have more like 2000 - 2500 active nukes each; look it up if you don't believe me, but don't pull figures out of your arse and expect someone to take it as fact.

[newsgirl1972]

if North Korea bomb California Mexico will declare war on north korea