U.S. ramping up missile defense against N. Korea amid new threats

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel speaks during a news conference at the Pentagon, Friday, March 15, 2013. / AP Photo/Cliff Owen

WASHINGTON The Pentagon announced Friday it will spend $1 billion to add 14 interceptors to a West Coast-based missile defense system, responding to what it called faster-than-anticipated North Korean progress on nuclear weapons and missiles.

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Citing a "series of irresponsible and reckless provocations" by Pyongyang, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said he is determined to ensure protection of the U.S. homeland and stay ahead of the North Korean missile threat. He acknowledged that the interceptors already in place to defend against potential North Korean missile launches have had poor test performances.

"We will strengthen our homeland defense, maintain our commitment to our allies and partners, and make clear to the world that the United States stands firm against aggression," Hagel told a Pentagon news conference.

The Pentagon intends to add the 14 interceptors to 26 already in place at Fort Greely, Alaska. That will expand the system's ability to shoot down long-range missiles in flight before they could reach U.S. territory. In addition to those at Greely, the U.S. also has four missile interceptors at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.

Hagel said the 14 extras should be in place by September 2017 but will not be deployed until they have been adequately tested.

"The reason we're advancing our program here for homeland security is to not take any chances, is to stay ahead of the threat and to assure any contingency," Hagel said.

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James Miller, the undersecretary of defense for policy, said the project would cost about $1 billion.

Miller and Hagel said the U.S. will conduct environmental studies on three additional potential locations for interceptors in the United States, including on the East Coast, as required by Congress. Hagel said no decision on a particular site has been made, but the studies would shorten the timeline should a decision be made.

Miller said that would provide options for building an interceptor base on the East Coast or adding more interceptors in Alaska, should either approach become necessary due to further future increases in the threat from Iran and North Korea.

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The threat of a missile strike from North Korea was the rationale for building the missile defense sites in Alaska and California during the administration of President George W. Bush. Technical difficulties with the interceptors slowed the pace at which they were installed at Greely and Vandenberg.

"Our policy is to stay ahead of the threat — and to continue to ensure that we are ahead of any potential future Iranian or North Korean ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) capability," Miller said in a speech Tuesday at the Atlantic Council.

Miller noted that last December, North Korea launched a satellite into space, demonstrating its mastery of some of the same technologies required for development of an intercontinental ballistic missile.

"Our concern about Pyongyang's potential ICBM capability is compounded by the regime's focus on developing nuclear weapons," he said. "North Korea's third nuclear test last month is obviously a serious concern for all nations."

North Korea recently threatened to reduce Seoul to a "sea of fire" and stage pre-emptive nuclear attacks on Washington.

"North Korea's shrill public pronouncements underscore the need for the U.S. to continue to take prudent steps to defeat any future North Korean ICBM," Miller said in his speech Tuesday.

[andthetruthis]

I am dismayed at some of the posts I've read here.

War with China...Russia...World War 3?

What in the world makes you think the Chinese,Russians,and Iranians,are some lunatic,death-wish nations?
They are people just like us.
Mom's and dad's,kid's off to school...same.

The North Koreans are a sick people,who still consider themselves at war for re-unification.
Mao backed them in 1950,and let it rest at the 38th Parallel.
The Chinese are indulging Capitalism,and have retrieved Hong Kong from England.
Pockets so full,the USA borrows from them.
But,somehow they would let these sick souls in their 'buffer state' ruin everything for them? Would we let Mexico draw war to our 'backyard'?
Simple as that.

Bottom line - the child/king does more than make noise,and empty threats,the Red Army will pour into North Korea. We won't have to budge.

[pookiewookie1]

Dennis Rodman should be our new Secretary of State. He has better appeal than Kerry.

[knsn_for_cmn_sense]

I kind of like building up OUR defense. Instead of... Someone elses.

Or nation building.

[newsnut8]

Someone please help me here. We went into Iraq 10 years ago on false info. This nut case has WMD and is threatening us with them! Why haven't we sent his worthless country back into the stone age by now?

[erasmus111]

Well, for starters, you don't have a trigger happy president anymore. He ain't a dumb ass like Bush.

I'm quite sure Obama knows what he's doing and is constantly being informed by military leaders on what they think should be done.

Now, that being said, I am a little concerned when they say that these interceptors won't be finished until 2017. I'm thinking North Korea will be able to send nuclear missiles long before then.

But, I'm sure Obama will be on top of it and do what's necessary to stop them before they get the opportunity to send them.

And then there is Iran. The other day I read where they will be able to send them in a year.

[Jack8383]

Because 'we' don't want to impact our life. We can knock toothless countries (who does not have WMD) around. Think of the impact when Tokyo gets a nuke. The truth of the matter is once you have nuclear bomb, you are untouchable by good old u.s of a.

[TomMariner]

Faster than expected progress from North Korea about nuclear weapon and delivery system progress. But we KNOW that Iran is at least a year away from similar progress.

I'm SO reassured.

[KansasCity-2012]

Pakistan has had nuclear capability since 1998. They are in the same nuclear diplomatic club with North Korea. Israel is believed to have them, but never tested any in their own soil. India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea have something in common....they have never signed a Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. If Israel would sign such a treaty, their Iranian neighbors would feel much better. If Iran would sign such a treaty, Israel would feel better. India and Pakistan are examples of neighbors who won't sign the treaty, but seem to refrain from constant and harsh rhetoric. The USA always knew this...a big mouth didn't make any leader of any country into a big man....in fact, it proves a dangerous weakness to exist.

[KansasCity-2012]

SLOW_NEWS Good catch! I totally missed that call.

[fred_zepellin]

I have to agree with some of the other commenters here, there is no logical way to approach the DPRK. Our own values dictate that we not simply step on them like the cockroach of a nation that they are, but at the first hostile military provocation, they ought to be wiped from the map, and if that requires nukes then so be it.

There is a lot of controversy at a lot of levels over weapons of many stripes,drones, assault rifles, rockets, and nukes. They are tools, and sadly, sometimes appropriate. It is up to the DPRK to determine if the big ones come into play.

[krj9]

Problem is that China is their ally. If we nuke them, you can bet there will be nukes flying our way and then we have world war 3.
The only way nukes will be justified is if the north launches first. If they even ready their silos, we will know.

[KansasCity-2012]

DPRK could send a nuke our way and wait for a retaliation. No one said a retaliation has to come from the USA. We wouldn't launch any nukes from our soil to target North Korea in a retaliation.

Submarines have been chasing each other in the Pacific ocean for weeks. Preparations for a sub launched nuclear missile retaliation have been an option considered for months. In fact, other nations with nuclear submarines within the striking distance of the DPRK have been competing for the most advantageous part of the eastern waters to operate. The activity hasn't been so intense there since the 1980's.

[Vivaldi_Forever]

Instead of spending $1 billion on this, why not start covert ops there and take out all the fat heads in Pyongyang?

[Danielbooner]

North Korea doesn't have the technology to build a TV. They are receiving their software, hardware and nuclear capability from china as is Iran. With China prodding thse countries on to create turmoil around the world.

The U.S. needs a preemptive strike on China immediately, it will happen anyway as soon as North Korea or Iran follows through with their threats with assurance and backing from China.

The most ignorant thing this country has ever done was craw into bed with China so that our corporations could increase their profit margins while building Chinas economy and making them a main competitor for the available oil reserves.

A major conflict is coming folks and it will have Russia, China, North Korea and the middle east as allies against the U.S. Americans need to get their heads out of the sand.

[krj9]

Children should not be allowed to post. Go away

[KansasCity-2012]

Crawl in bed with China ignorant? Well, for those of us with a long memory, Nixon, who was a Republican, was the first to do it while we were in a war in Vietnam. He actually arranged a limited technology exchange program with China and I personally met and worked with 4 Chinese nationals who were highly educated, honorable and very pro-USA in the 1980's. Their conversion to a Free-market economy was possible by Chinese leaders who learned how to manage it and the industries they wanted to use to improve their standard of living.

There is no major conflict coming with China or Russia, unless you are one of the FOX News puppets waiting for their broadcasts so you can have one of your anxiety attacks of paranoia or neurosis. Really, you need a lesson in global economics and international history...a foreign language would probably wouldn't hurt, so you can visit a foreign country of your choice and learn how twisted the American TV journalism is and does injustice to people they don't even know.

[superfly885]

Okay, so we laughed at N.K.'s threats and NOW we acknowledge our defensive shield has poor test performances and are racing to build it up... Someone dropped the ball!

[nonpolitico]

We sure did drop the ball.
Pres Obama`s "lets be friends" speech to the same Islamic militants the GWB bombed out of Afghanistan with the B52 raids, went down well!
All respect for the USA in the Middle East was lost when Mr Obama appeared weak!
IF NK did not hold the same opinion, then its leader would sure as hell not be shooting his mouth off about launcing a nuke at the USA!
The way to influence NK bearing in mind that NOW technically we are at war, (The Cease fire agreement from the 1950s now in ruins means that strictly, "hostilities" are resumed!), is not to try currying favor with them.
Perhaps a carrier task force carrying out anti missile "exercises" in the vicinity would maybe show intent?
After all the USN has the capability to deal with NK aggression!
This loony tunes dictator needs not negotiations, but to know he gets a kick up the ass if he tries to make good his threats!
Totalitarians never learn, but then Democrats are never keen these days on using harsh words in return (such as the words GWB used when Iran threatened with its nuclear stick).
Remember it well! GWB told Iran, "Go ahead, but shortly after yiur nuke hits Israel, Tehran will become a smoking ruin!".
Iran never threatened GWB again!
Perhaps the dems could maybe just take notes? Seeing as "pretty please" doesn`t work with nut jobs!

[sparkbox]

So if NK decides to engage us before 2017 we'll rely on weapons already in place. If so, the additional billion won't need to be spent. However, if this missile project is going forward, what companies are providing the materials and missiles? I want to invest.