Defense Minister Song Young-moo says that it is too early to judge whether North Korea is now capable of mounting a nuclear warhead on an intercontinental ballistic missile(ICBM).
 
In a hearing arranged by the National Assembly’s National Defense Committee on Monday, Song said even if the North has completed its ICBM development program, it is difficult to judge whether the country has also mastered the technology to launch a nuclear-tipped ICBM. 
 
He added that it is was too early to judge if the launch of the Hwasong-14 ICBM last Friday was meant to test its reentry capabilities.
 
Noting that communication with the enemy is necessary even during war, Song said the South Korean military will continue to seek dialogue with the North in line with President Moon Jae-in’s two-track approach of pressure and dialogue.
 
However, he stressed that the military will try to swiftly build its Kill-Chain preemptive strike system to assure the South Korean public concerned about the growing threats from the North, adding the Kim Jong-un regime is relying on the nuclear and missile program as the only means to maintain its power.

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