As North Korea apparently gets ready to test a missile capable of reaching Western North America, the United States has put its missle defense system into operational mode.
The Pentagon activated its new U.S. ground-based interceptor missile defense system, and officials announced yesterday that any long-range missile launch by North Korea would be considered a “provocative act.”
Poor weather conditions above where the missile site was located by U.S. intelligence satellites indicates that an immediate launch is unlikely, said officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
However, intelligence officials said preparations have advanced to the point where a launch could take place within several days to a month.
Two Navy Aegis warships are patrolling near North Korea as part of the global missile defense and would be among the first sensors that would trigger the use of interceptors, the officials said yesterday.
The U.S. missile defense system includes 11 long-range interceptor missiles, including nine deployed at Fort Greeley, Alaska, and two at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The system was switched from test to operational mode within the past two weeks, the officials said.
This is just the latest sign that the U.S. is taking this missile test seriously. Yesterday, Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice threw down the gauntlet:
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice added that any launch would be a serious matter and “would be taken with utmost seriousness and indeed a provocative act.”
In case you missed the memo, that’s diplomatic-speak for “do this and you’ll really, really regret it.” But the North Koreans seem intent on going forward, and things could come to a head soon:
U.S. intelligence officials said there are signs that the North Koreans recently began fueling the Taepodong with highly corrosive rocket fuel. Normally, when liquid fuel is loaded into missiles the missile must be fired within five to 10 days, or it must be de-fueled and the motors cleaned, a difficult and hazardous process.
If North Korea does launch this missile, I can think of nothing better that could happen than to see it shot down by a U.S.-based interceptor. It would send a signal both to North Korea and the rest of the world that “Star Wars” is a reality.
