S. Korea near deal on longer missile range: Yonhap

SEOUL (AFP) - South Korea and the United States are close to agreement on more than doubling the range of Seoul's ballistic missiles to better guard against threats from North Korea, a report said on Sunday.

Yonhap news agency said the two allies were close to agreeing on expanding Seoul's missile range to 800km - enough to cover the entire North - from the current 300km, citing diplomatic sources.

The United States stations 28,500 troops in South Korea and guarantees a nuclear "umbrella" in case of any atomic attack. In return, Seoul accepts limits on its missile capabilities.

"Agreements have been reached on major issues," said a Seoul source quoted by Yonhap.