By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter
North Korea displayed a newly developed medium-range ballistic missile capable of reaching the U.S. territory of Guam during a massive military parade last week, a news report said Saturday.
The parade held in Pyongyang on Wednesday marking the 75th anniversary of the Stalinist regime's military featured three new models, including a medium-range missile with a range of at least 2,500 kilometers and a Rodong missile with a range of 1,300 kilometers, the Chosun Ilbo reported.
``All three (new) models are ground-to-ground missiles,'' an unidentified South Korean defense source with access to an analysis of a U.S. satellite image was quoted as saying. ``Of them, the medium-range ballistic missile has Guam in its range.''
``By disclosing its newest missiles, the regime showed off that it has strategic weapons capable of delivering its nuclear weapons,'' he added.
The Defense Ministry declined to comment on the report for security reasons.
A total of 52 missiles of four kinds were spotted in recorded video footage aired by the North's Korean Central Television Station, the report said.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il attended the military ceremony. Also present at the event were Kim Yong-nam, president of the Supreme People's Assembly, Army chief Gen. Kim Kyok-sil and Prime Minister Kim Yong-il, it said.
In a speech, Kim Jong-il reportedly described the United States as ``imperialist,'' and that it is continuously trying to topple the regime.
The revelation of the missile, the first of its kind in 15 years in a public parade, came as the North has refused to act on a Feb. 13 nuclear disarmament deal until it receives $25 million of funds previously frozen in a Macau bank by U.S. authorities.
The U.S. government last month decided to drop the sanctions but the funds have not yet been transferred due to problems of finding a bank willing to handle the cash.
Pyongyang has already failed to meet an April 14 deadline to take the initial steps to dismantle its main nuclear reactor and related facilities in return for economic assistance and a regime guarantee.
North Korea's missile development has been a constant concern, along with its pursuit of nuclear weapons.
The Stalinist regime test-fired several missiles in July last year, including a long-range Taepodong-2 which experts believe could reach Alaska and Hawaii with a light payload. The North rattled the world again last October by conducting its first-ever test of a nuclear device.