U.S. Defense Official Confirms Chinese Missile Test



A U.S. defense official has confirmed the recent test by China of a submarine-launched long-range ballistic missile, the Associated Press reported yesterday (see GSN, June 20).

The range of the Ju Lang 2 is believed to be up to 6,000 miles, outstripping all other missiles carried by Chinese submarines. The missile would be capable of reaching U.S. territory from the western Pacific Ocean.

The test is an indication that China is continuing to move toward deployment of the missile, the official said. It would also expand the nation’s nuclear capability beyond land sites and aircraft.

China has also been developing a new nuclear-missile submarine, AP reported. It was not known if the missile was launched from the new Type 094-class vessel (John Lumpkin, Associated Press/Tucson Citizen, June 22).

http://www.nti.org/d_newswire/issues/2005_6_23.html#0B3750EA