17 January 2001 S. Korea's New Missile Guidelines Balance Security, Non-Proliferation The Republic of Korea (ROK) has adopted guidelines under which it will be able to possess missiles capable of delivering a payload of at least 500 kilograms to a range of at least 300 kilometers, the State Department said in a statement released January 17. The range and payload capabilities are within the thresholds of the Missile Technology Control Regime, and this step taken by the ROK is supported by the United States, said Richard Boucher, State Department spokesman. South Korea's decision, Boucher said, strikes "the right balance between bolstering the Republic of Korea's security and respecting regional stability and global nonproliferation principles." Following is the text of the statement: U.S. Department of State Office of the Spokesman For Immediate Release January 17, 2001 Statement By Richard Boucher, Spokesman New Republic of Korea Missile Guidelines Earlier today in Seoul, the Government of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) announced new guidelines governing the Republic of Korea's possession and development of missile and rocket systems. The Republic of Korea will be able under its new guidelines to possess missiles with range/payload capabilities up to the Missile Technology Control Regime threshold (missiles capable of delivering a payload of at least 500 kg to a range of at least 300 km). While addressing its legitimate defense and deterrence needs, the Republic of Korea is simultaneously respecting Northeast Asian security and global nonproliferation principles by remaining within the Missile Technology Control Regime threshold. Before announcing its new missile guidelines, the Republic of Korea consulted extensively with the U.S. This is because of our alliance relationship and the U.S.'s leading role in nonproliferation. The U.S. fully supports the Republic of Korea's new missile guidelines. The U.S. believes those new guidelines strike the right balance between bolstering the Republic of Korea's security and respecting regional stability and global nonproliferation principles. Taking account of the new guidelines, the U.S. will be supporting the Republic of Korea's immediate membership in the Missile Technology Control Regime. (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov) Return to the Washington File