Asia, Missile Defense | featured news

South Korea unveiled a cruise missile on Thursday that it said can hit the office of North Korea's leaders, trying to address concerns that it is technologically behind its unpredictable rival which this week conducted its third nuclear test.

China will have 2,000 missiles aimed at its rival Taiwan by the end of the year, several hundred more than the current number, despite fast-warming trade ties between the two sides, an island defense study said.

The U.S. is moving ground-to-air missile defenses to Hawaii after North Korea's recent moves to restart its nuclear weapon program.

Defense Secretary Gates began laying the groundwork for building up U.S. and allied military defenses should a diplomatic response to North Korea fail.

Japan says it will intercept and destroy any parts of a North Korean rocket that might fall on its territory.