South Korea issues warning on North Korea ballistic missile capability

SEOUL, May 11 (UPI) -- South Korea issued a warning on North Korea's ballistic missile capability on Monday, three days after North Korea claimed it launched its first ballistic missile from a submarine.

South Korea Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said the news of missile development was a "serious concern." Kim also said North Korea must immediately stop its development of SLBM, or submarine-launched ballistic missiles, Busan Ilbo reported.

The news North Korea had launched a missile from a submarine came from North Korea's state news agency KCNA. But Sky News reported there was no independent confirmation of the test.

The South Korean government, however, warned Monday that North Korea could have a fleet of submarines capable of launching ballistic missiles in two or three years. Seoul said North Korea is in the "early phase" of development.

In an atmosphere of heightened military tensions with the North, South Korea's National Assembly Defense Committee opened an emergency session pertaining to the SLBM launch on Monday. South Korean lawmakers and Defense Ministry officials discussed the need to look into emergency security measures, including the Korea Anti-Missile Defense, or KAMD system that could deter against North Korean missiles.

South Korea's ballistic missile arsenal includes the Hyunmoo-2A, with a range of 186 miles, and the Hyunmoo-3, with a range of 621 miles, among others.

North Korea's KCNA announced the launch of the SLBM was lauded by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. He reportedly said the missile was a "world-level strategic weapon capable of striking and wiping out in any waters the hostile forces infringing upon [North Korea's] sovereignty and dignity."

North Korea reportedly test-fired three cruise missiles on Saturday, the day after it launched its first SLBM.