( CNN ) -- North Korea said Tuesday its missiles can reach the U.S. mainland -- days after South Korea announced a deal with the United States to extend its missile range . The strike zone of North Korean rocket forces includes `` not only the bases of the puppet forces and the U.S. imperialist aggression forces ' bases in the inviolable land of Korea , but also Japan , Guam and the U.S. mainland , '' the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported . But some analysts questioned the claim . `` That 's been a desire or an objective , politically , for North Korean leadership for quite some time . But they have not demonstrated that capability , '' said Daniel Pinkston of the International Crisis Group 's North East Asia Program . `` To acquire that capability requires a lot of development and testing . And considering what they 've done so far ... I do n't find that credible . But I do think they 're working toward acquiring that capability . '' North Korean soldier shoots comrades , defects to South . The claim from Pyongyang comes amid increased tensions between the two Koreas after the North test fired a long-range rocket in April . That rocket exploded shortly after it was launched . North Korea insisted it was trying to launch a satellite into orbit , but the attempt was widely viewed as a cover for a ballistic missile test . Analysts say the country 's latest threat is n't surprising after South Korea announced it reached a deal with the United States that allows Seoul to extend the range of its ballistic missiles . `` What else can they say ? It was politically impossible for them not to react , '' said professor Andrei Lankov of Kookmin University in Seoul . On Sunday , South Korea said it reached a deal with the United States that allows Seoul to extend the range of its ballistic missiles to include the northern peninsula of North Korea . The deal with Washington revised the range of Seoul 's missiles from 300 kilometers ( 186 miles ) to 800 kilometers ( 497 miles ) , South Korean national security adviser Chun Yung-woo told reporters . `` The important goal in revising the missile pact is to deter armed provocation from North Korea , '' Chun said . `` If North Korea is to attack or provoke , we are able to incapacitate its nuclear and missile ( capabilities ) in the early stage . We have guaranteed various capabilities to protect the life and safety of our people . '' The South agreed in 1972 to limit its missile range to 180 kilometers ( 112 miles ) in exchange for access to U.S. missile technology . Guidelines were revised in 2001 to allow for a range of 300 kilometers . The two Koreas signed an armistice that ended the 1950-1953 Korean war , though a peace treaty was never signed . Technically , the two countries remain in a state of war . Roughly 28,000 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea . South Korea says U.S. agrees to extend Seoul 's ballistic missile range . CNN 's Paula Hancocks , KJ Kwon and Elise Labott contributed to this report .
An analyst says he does n't find North Korea 's claim to be credible . `` It was politically impossible for them not to react '' to South Korea , a professor says . South Korea announced a deal with the U.S. to extend its missile range to include the North . Previously , the South agreed to limit its missile range in exchange for access to U.S. technology .