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Image IntelligenceNorth Korea - expanding its missile rangeGEOINTELLIGENCE jan - feb 2013North Korea is reported to have more thanthousand missiles of varying capabilities,ranging from short-range (120 km and above)to long-range (greater than 5,500km). Thecountry is believed to have developed its missileprogramme from Scuds, which it received fromEgypt in 1970s. The following decade saw NorthKorea build its own Scuds - the Hwasong-5 andHwasong-6, and a medium-range missile, theNodong. These technologies are said to havebeen extensively used by the country in buildingits long-range missile, Taepodong.After three failed attempts, North Koreasuccessfully launched the three-stage spacelauncher version of Taepodong-2, called Unha inNorth Korea, in December 2012. Taepodong-2 orPaektusan-2 is also a two to three-stage ballisticmissile. Even though space launches and missilelaunches follow slightly different trajectories,the basic technology used in the two is the same.Hence, there is a growing fear among the USthat North Korea’s long-range missiles can oneday target their country.Text Courtesy: BBCImage Courtesy: 38 North (http://38north.org/)38 North is a programme of the US-Korea Institute at SAIS (USKI)42