. 24/7 Space News .
NUKEWARS
What Could the US Do to Stop a North Korean ICBM Attack?
by Staff Writers
Moscow (Sputnik) Jan 31, 2016


illustration only

The United States could employ a multifaceted missile defense system to defeat an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launched by North Korea, which is reported to be testing a long-range missile soon.

Citing an unnamed government official, Japan's Kyodo news agency this week reported that satellite imagery appears to show North Korea preparing to launch a long-range missile from its Tongchang-ri test site.

North Korea could use the same technology to develop an ICBM capable of reaching major cities in the continental United States. Pyongyang has bragged that it already has the capability to miniaturize a nuclear weapon to fit atop an ICBM - an assessment with which some US military officials agree.

US Senator Cory Gardner, a Colorado Republican, told Sputnik News that the reported missile tests are an attempt by North Korea to prove that it has the ability to launch a missile across the Pacific at the United States.

If North Korea did launch an ICBM, the United States could turn to the Missile Defense Agency's Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD). The system has the ability to destroy a limited number of incoming missiles in space. There are 30 interceptors currently in place between military bases in Alaska and California, with plans to add an additional 14.

The GMD was tested as recently as this month, but questions about its reliability persist.

The chief of US Pacific Command, Admiral Harry Harris, on Wednesday called for placing an Aegis Ashore system on the Hawaiian Islands.

"I've gone on record as talking about the Aegis Ashore facility in Hawaii. My point on that is it is something that we should consider," Harris told an audience at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC.

He also said that the US Army should permanently base a terminal high altitude area defense (THAAD) battery in Guam in case of a North Korean attack. Such a weapon, which can intercept missiles inside and outside the Earth's atmosphere, would also be useful against Chinese missiles. Eventually, a THAAD battery could also be stationed in South Korea.

Source: Sputnik News


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


.


Related Links
Korea News
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com
Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com
All about missiles at SpaceWar.com
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

Previous Report
NUKEWARS
Speculation mounts of imminent N. Korea rocket launch
Washington (AFP) Jan 29, 2016
Speculation mounted Friday that North Korea is preparing a rocket or long-range missile launch to follow its recent nuclear test, with Japan reportedly ordering its military to shoot down any projectile that threatened its territory. With existing UN Security Council resolutions banning North Korea from the use of ballistic missile technology, any launch would be a further slap in the face o ... read more


NUKEWARS
Russia postpones manned Lunar mission to 2035

Audi joins Google Lunar XPrize competition

Lunar mission moves a step closer

Momentum builds for creation of 'moon villages'

NUKEWARS
India to Cooperate With France on Next Mission to Mars

Opportunity rock abrasion tool conducts two rock grinds

Curiosity gets a good taste of scooped, sieved sand

Opportunity Abrasion Tool Conducts Two Rock Grinds

NUKEWARS
Voyager Mission Celebrates 30 Years Since Uranus

Arab nations eye China, domestic market to revive tourism

2016 Goals Vital to Commercial Crew Success

Space: The here-and-now frontier

NUKEWARS
China aims for the Moon with new rockets

China shoots for first landing on far side of the moon

Chinese Long March 3B to launch Belintersat-1 telco sat for Belarus

China Plans More Than 20 Space Launches in 2016

NUKEWARS
Russian Cosmonauts to Attach Thermal Insulation to ISS

Astronaut Scott Kelly plays ping pong with water

Japanese astronaut learned Russian to link two nations

NASA, Texas Instruments Launch mISSion imaginaTIon

NUKEWARS
Ariane 6 design finalized, set for 2020 launch

SpaceX Falcon 9 upgrade certified for National Security Space launches

Pentagon Can't Overcome Its Russian Engines Addiction: McCain

James describes way forward to Space-Launch System

NUKEWARS
Follow A Live Planet Hunt

Lab discovery gives glimpse of conditions found on other planets

Nearby star hosts closest alien planet in the 'habitable zone'

ALMA reveals planetary construction sites

NUKEWARS
Lockheed Martin UK supplying radar to Royal Navy

Laser Debris Shields

Apple quietly working on virtual reality: report

Acoustic tweezers provide much needed pluck for 3-D bioprinting









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.