Pentagon reviewing S. Korea missile limits after request from Seoul

The Pentagon is considering a request from South Korea to allow it to develop more powerful ballistic missiles as tensions with North Korea continue to simmer.

“There is currently a limit on the warhead size and missiles that South Korea can have and yes, it is a topic under active consideration here,” Pentagon spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis told reporters at the Pentagon, as reported by Reuters.

Under a bilateral agreement between the United States and South Korea, Seoul can develop missiles up to a range of 800 kilometers, or about 497 miles, with a maximum payload of 500 kilograms, or about 1,102 pounds.

The guidelines, first set in 1979, were last revised in 2012.

{mosads}In a Sunday call, South Korean President Moon Jae-in asked President Trump to support changing guidelines to allow for a payload of up to 1,000 kilograms, or about 1 ton, according to South Korean news agency Yonhap.

Moon first ordered consultations on such a revision in late July after North Korea’s second intercontinental ballistic missile test.

On Monday, Davis said the Pentagon would be “favorably inclined” to changes that improve South Korea’s defenses.

“I would tell you that we would be favorably inclined to do anything which furthers the defense capabilities of South Korea and we certainly have seen our alliance change and adapt over time before,” Davis said.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula further escalated after North Korea carried out two intercontinental ballistic missile tests in July.

Analysts have said the second test appeared to show the continental U.S. is within North Korea’s range, though there are other technological hurdles Pyongyang must mount before it could reliably strike the U.S.