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South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo gives a speech in Singapore on June 1 regarding the security of the Korean Peninsula. (provided by the Ministry of National Defense)

During the Asia Security Summit (also called the Shangri-La Dialogue), which is underway in Singapore, South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo said that the projectiles launched by North Korea on May 4 and 9 “appeared to have been short-range missiles of the same kind.” The Defense Ministry had continued to describe the projectiles fired by the North on May 4 as having been “a new kind of tactical guided missile” even while concluding that the projectiles fired on May 9 were “short-range missiles.”

“At this stage of our analysis, we’ve taken note of a difference between the mobile launch vehicles: some use wheels and others use tracks. But we think that they’re basically the same kind,” Jeong said during a press conference that was held at the Shangra-Li Hotel on June 1.

During an earlier speech titled “Security on the Korean Peninsula and the Next Step,” Jeong referred to the projectiles launched both on May 4 and on May 9 as being “short-range missiles.” “With its launch of short-range missiles on two occasions in May, North Korea is threatening to withdraw from the denuclearization talks and go back to its old ways,” Jeong said during that speech.

When asked whether these short-range missiles were identical to the Iskander, a short-range ballistic missile developed by Russia, Jeong reiterated once again that the question is “under analysis.” “While some aspects are similar to the Iskander, there are also some clear differences,” Jeong said.

Jeong was also asked to comment on Acting US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan’s remark during a speech that morning that North Korea poses a threat to the US and its allies. “North Korea’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles are obviously a threat. Shanahan was referring to such threats in a general sense,” Jeong explained.

By Yoo Kang-moon, senior staff writer

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