MOSCOW. July 4 (Interfax) - North Korea's missile and nuclear program does not yet pose a global threat due to the country's lack of technologies, however, the situation could drastically change in ten years, Space Policy Institute head Ivan Moiseyev said.
"North Korea launched two spacecraft into orbit independently; it can be viewed as a theoretic possibility of sufficiency of launch vehicles to deliver a charge at relatively large distance, but the situation with the charge itself is not yet clear," he told Interfax.
"The country does not yet possess technologies that would ensure warheads reaching targets, because they enter the atmosphere at high speed and heat up badly. Without relevant technologies those warheads will just fall apart in midair, failing to reach a target," the expert said.
In addition, North Korea lacks advanced control systems and navigation aids, but the situation could change in ten years, Moiseyev said.
"If North Korea finds enough funds and intensively invests them in development of this field, they will be able to address part of these issues; it's difficult to talk about a serious threat yet, but if they address the crucial issues, it will be dangerous for the people around it," he said.
"In particular, a potential threat of disorientation of such a warhead due to technical shortcomings is not unlikely, and in this case, regardless of a target of the supposed strike, it could pose a theoretical threat to the bordering territory of Russia, where this warhead may fall, having gotten lost," he said.