Anchor: President Lee Myung-bak says the range of South Korean ballistic missiles should be extended in order to counter potential North Korean provocations. Jang Souie has more on this report.

Report: President Lee Myung-bak told the Dong-a Ilbo and Wall Street Journal among other domestic and foreign press on Thursday that "for the defense against North Korean attacks at times of contingencies,” South Korea needs to expand its missile range to “an appropriate level.”

The range of South Korea’s ballistic missiles is limited to 300 kilometers with a payload limit of 500 kilograms under a South Korea-U.S. missile range pact reached in 2001.

Lee stressed the importance of revising the pact, saying the current range only allows South Korean missiles to reach southern parts of North Korea near the inter-Korean border, making it difficult for Seoul to effectively defend itself against Pyongyang.

He said North Korean missiles can reach all the way to South Korea's southernmost Jeju Island, adding the nation's defense posture needs to be symmetrical with that of North Korea. The president says South Korea and the United States are working on a joint strategy, and there is an understanding between the two sides that it is appropriate to extend South Korea’s missile range to a suitable level.

The South Korean government is actively considering revising the missile range pact in response to Pyongyang’s recent announcement that it will launch its Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite into orbit.

All eyes are on whether President Lee and U.S. President Barack Obama will be able to reach an agreement on the issue on the sidelines of the 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit next week.

Jang Souie, KBS World Radio News.