Yonhap: North Korea possibly received Russian aid in developing new missile

North Korea has possibly received technological assistance from Russia in developing a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that was first showcased during a recent military parade, Chairman of South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Jin Yong-sung has stated.

"I believe there is sufficient possibility," he said in a parliamentary audit session, Caliber.Az reports via Yonhap.

When asked about South Korea’s military's capabilities in responding to the hypersonic missile, Jin said "the accuracy of interception may slightly falter but they can be intercepted."

He acknowledged concerns over Pyongyang's weapons development and said the South Korean military will thoroughly prepare to respond to it, adding that further technological verification is necessary for the new weapons systems.

As part of such efforts, the top military officer said the military is seeking to utilise commercial satellites to bolster surveillance capabilities.

"I believe it is important to take in information in a short time and in a repeated manner, using not only military reconnaissance satellites but civilian satellites," Jin said. "We are pushing to do so."

By Khagan Isayev