2011-02-22 14:13

SEOUL - A key presidential aide to the Republic of Korea (ROK) President Lee Myung-bak will visit the United States for talks over revising guidelines on Seoul's missile development, local media reported Tuesday.

Kim Tae-hyo, presidential secretary for national security strategy, will leave for Washington this weekend to meet with US officials, including Jeffrey Bader, the National Security Council' s director for Asian affairs, according to Seoul's Chosun Ilbo newspaper.

The two sides will reportedly discuss revising current guidelines limiting the firing range of ROK's ballistic missiles to 300 kilometers, stipulated under the Missile Technology Control Regime aimed at restricting proliferation of missiles and missile technology.

ROK has sought authorization to develop longer-range missiles to better deal with potential missile threats from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The trip is at the request of the US government, according to Chosun.