Anchor: The Vice Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff has said that North Korea’s most recent missile test clearly shows that it possesses the range to strike parts of the United States. However, he added that the test also demonstrated Pyongyang still lacks in the area of accuracy.
Our Kim Bum-soo has this report.
 
Report: 
 
[Sound bite: General Paul Selva - Vice Chairman, U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff]
"I do agree in principle with the assessment that the North Koreans are moving quickly to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile capability. I, however, am not sanguine that the test on the fourth of July demonstrates that they have the capacity to strike the United States with any degree of accuracy or reasonable confidence of success. 
 
Vice Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff General Paul Selva on Tuesday revealed his assessment on the North Korean ballistic missile program before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
 
The analysis came in the wake of a missile launch earlier this month in North Korea. The Pyongyang regime claimed that it now possesses capabilities to mount a nuclear warhead on an intercontinental ballistic missile(ICBM). 
 
[Sound bite: General Paul Selva - Vice Chairman, US Joint Chiefs of Staff]
"What the experts tell me is that the North Koreans have yet to demonstrate the capacity to do the guidance and control that would be required."
(Sen. John Inhofe: "Yes. No, I was only referring to range.")
"Yes, sir. On range, they clearly have the capability."
 
The launch did prove that the projectile can reach as far as Alaska if it's fired at a lower degree angle. 
 
The South Korean National Intelligence Service said last week that North Korea is yet to secure re-entry capabilities for its ICBM. It is also unclear if the North is able to miniaturize a nuclear warhead to put on a missile top.
 
The vice chairman of the U.S. JCS cautioned that North Korea is not too far behind in terms of making the needed improvements for a full ICBM. 
 
Selva said he is “reasonably confident” in the U.S. intelligence capabilities to keep track of launch tests in North Korea but he is concerned of the North’s ability to hide the launchers for sudden deployment. 
 
He added Kim Jong Un and his military are very good at camouflage, concealment and deception. 
Kim Bum-soo, KBS World Radio News.
 

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