By Jun Ji-hye
A state-run military research center plans to hire 100 new staff members to develop technologies related to missiles and other weapons, a Ministry of National Defense (MND) official said Sunday.
The Agency for Defense Development (ADD) will have the new personnel work on ballistic missiles with ranges of up to 800 kilometers that can reach all parts of North Korea, the official said.
In addition, the military has set the goal of completing an automated control system by 2015.
“A 4.2 billion won ($3.8 million) budget was earmarked for recruiting professionals. We are planning to select a maximum of 100,” the official said.
Last October, South Korea and the United States agreed on revising a bilateral guideline governing missile development for the first time in 11 years, since the last amendment in 2001.
The revision allows Seoul to develop more powerful ballistic missiles with a range of up to 800 kilometers, up from the current 300 kilometers.
Seoul plans to deploy ballistic missiles with ranges of 550 kilometers and 800 kilometers within five years.
In response to the North’s Dec. 12 rocket launch, the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution to impose further sanctions on the reclusive state on Jan. 22.
The North has been threatening to carry out a third nuclear test, which led President-elect Park Geun-hye to meet heads of the ruling and opposition parties to discuss how to cope with the threat last week.