U.S. Prepares Missile Defense, Continues Shipping Interdictions

The United States has deployed missile defense equipment to the Pacific amid reports alleging that North Korea has threatened to fire a ballistic missile toward Hawaii, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today.

“We’re obviously watching the situation in the north, with respect to missile launches, very closely,” Gates said at a Pentagon news conference with Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “And we do have some concerns if they were to launch a missile to the west, in the direction of Hawaii.”

Gates has ordered the deployment of Theater High Altitude Area Defense missiles to Hawaii and the sea-based SBX Radar near the island state to provide support. “Based on my visit to Fort Greely, the ground-based interceptors are clearly in a position to take action,” he added, referring to the Army launch site for anti-ballistic missiles near Fairbanks, Alaska.

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~ by tonguesoffire on June 19, 2009.