South Korea agrees to extend range ballistic missiles

South Korea has been allowed to develop unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, with an unlimited payload weight if the flying distance is within 300 kilometres, Reuters reported.

Seoul has for years sought to extend its missile range to deter the North, which it said had developed missiles that could reach every corner of the country. It also wanted to increase the payload for the UAVs and develop not only reconnaissance UAVs but also combat drones.

"The most important goal for our government to revise the missile guidelines is deterring North Korea's military provocations," Chun said.

Currently, all of South Korea as well as US military installations in Japan and Guam, are within the range of North Korean missile attacks, according to South Korean government data.

In April, North Korea was condemned by the U.N. Security Council after a failed long-range rocket launch. US allies including South Korea deemed it a disguised test for the North to upgrade its ballistic missile technology despite Pyongyang's claim that it was aimed to put a satellite into orbit for peaceful purpose.