SKorea tests missile amid North’s threats

South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Friday observed the test-firing of a new midrange missile being developed to counter North Korean threats, saying Seoul must be able to militarily “dominate” the North for future engagement to work.

It's a twist on the typical pattern on the Korean Peninsula, where North Korean state media frequently issue reports about leader Kim Jong Un observing missile tests that it says are needed to combat South Korean and U.S. hostility.

Moon, a liberal who took office in May after a decade of conservative rule in South Korea, supports engagement with North Korea, but was quoted after the launch as saying that “dialogue is only possible when we have a strong military, and engagement policies are only possible when we have the security capability to dominate North Korea.”

“Our people will feel proud and safe after seeing that our missile capability doesn't trail North Korea's,” Moon said, according to his spokesman, Park Soo-hyun.

Park didn't say how far the Hyun- moo-2 missile flew or where it landed, but said it accurately hit its target area.

North Korean missile tests present a difficult challenge for Moon.

North Korea has tested several new missile systems this year, including a powerful midrange missile that experts say could one day reach targets as far as Hawaii or Alaska. It also conducted two nuclear tests last year as it pursues development of a long-range nuclear missile that could reach the U.S. mainland.

South Korea's military plans to deploy the Hyunmoo-2, which is designed to hit targets as far as 800 kilometers away, after conducting two more test launches.

The missile is considered a key part of a so-called “kill chain” pre-emptive strike capability South Korea is pursuing to cope with the North's growing nuclear and missile threat.

In addition to expanding its missile arsenal, South Korea is also strengthening its missile defense, which include Patriot-based systems and a high-tech Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery currently under deployment in Seongju.