World Tribune.com

U.S. missile defense ready, waiting for expected N. Korea launch

Special to World Tribune.com
EAST-ASIA-INTEL.COM
Thursday, June 8, 2006

The U.S. ground-based missile defense system is set to intercept any North Korean long-range missile launch amid indications Pyongyang is preparing to test fire a Taepodong missile.

The missile defense system includes 10 ground-based interceptors, plus radars and other sensors, deployed in Asia, Alaska and California.

A recent U.S. intelligence report stated, “The multiple-stage Taepodong-2, potentially capable of reaching parts of the United States with a nuclear-weapon-sized payload — may be ready for flight-testing.”

Reports from Asia and the United States said activity in North Korea indicated a flight test might be under preparation.

The interceptors are in varying states of readiness. Defense officials said the system has been in a “shakedown mode” since the first of five interceptors were deployed in the fall of 2004 and the command and control infrastructure was integrated with the interceptors and radars.

Missile defense personnel from the Strategic, Northern and Pacific commands have been training on the system since that time.

The system is currently in a development and test mode while that shakedown phase continues.

A key part of the system involves the deployment of U.S. Aegis battle-management equipped warships in waters near North Korea. While the warships are not deployed around the clock, they currently are in the vicinity of North Korea and could be used to detect a Taepodong launch, U.S. sources said.

A Missile Defense Agency spokesman declined to comment on whether the system could be used against a Taepodong test.

Unlike other long-range missile states, North Korea does not provide advance notice to foreign governments of its missile tests. As a result, any test launch could be regarded as a missile firing and thus would be fair game to be shot down by the new long-range missile defense system.

North Korea last tested its Taepodong in August 1998, catching U.S. intelligence agencies by surprise. Pyongyang claimed the missile launch was to orbit a satellite.

The Bush administration said North Korea would face new international and other punitive actions if it fires a long-range missile.


Copyright © 2006 East West Services, Inc.

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