U.S. Prepares Missile Defense, Continues Shipping Interdictions

American Forces Press Service ^ | John J. Kruzel

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, June 18, 2009 – 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.

“Without telegraphing what we will do, I would just say I think we are in a good position should it become necessary to protect American territory,” the secretary said.

Meanwhile, Mullen reiterated the U.S. intent to adhere to a United Nations resolution allowing Americans to conduct permissive searches of North Korean vessels.

“We intend to vigorously enforce the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1874,” Mullen said, noting that the United States has “hail and query” authority under Security Council guidelines, meaning American authorities can seek permission from the ship’s crew to board and search its contents.

“If a vessel like this is queried and doesn't allow a permissive search, [the United States] can direct it to go into a port, and the country of that port would…inspect the vessel,” Mullen said, noting that the resolution does not allow for an opposed or noncompliant boarding. The U.N. would be alerted in instances of North Korean vessels refusing searches or possessing weaponry in violation of resolution.

Asked about Pyongyang’s stated stance that it would consider an interdiction of its vessels an act of war, Mullen underscored that the U.N. resolution represents an international commitment.

“It's not just the United States, it's a lot of other countries as well,” he said. “And the north’s steps to further isolate itself, to further noncomply with international guidance and regulations, in the long-run, puts them in a more difficult position.”

Biographies:
Robert M. Gates
Navy Adm. Mike Mullen

Related Sites:
Transcript: Gates' Pentagon Briefing

[The Great RJ]

Gee what will Obama do after he has canceled the anti missile system and the North Koreans have a nuclear tipped missile capable of hitting California?

[Bon mots]

This is a BIG SLAP right in Obummer's face.
He will do NOTHING.

[joesjane]

Wait a minute, if we would just disarm I am sure everything would be alright, in fact skittles would fall from the sky over North Korea and everyone there will love us!

[johniegrad]

If they fire a missile in the direction of Hawaii, it should be the end of the Osama administration. Please note, I said SHOULD be the end.

[NonValueAdded]

"You have all read the revised Rules of Engagement. Any questions?"

"Yeah, how do you pronounce that North Korean phrase for 'pretty please?'"

[Shermy]

“If they fire a missile in the direction of Hawaii”

They already did. It fell 3,000 miles short.

They have no such missile that can hit Hawaii, let alone a warhead nuke. The Star Wars lobby isn’t pushing the Hawaii angle this time, it’s the Japanese.

Why? Maybe they are trying to get Obama to pay more attention to events in their region.

[perchprism]

So let’s say this is all a ruse, on the part of Chia Head, and we’re falling for it. I predicted to some friends the other day that the Norks would send out a suspicious boat (ala Gulf of Tonkin) that will serve as a causus belli, and sure enough they did. A worst case scenario-—NK lets fly a missile, purportedly headed in the direction of Hawaii, but it explodes 100 miles up over the Sea of Japan. Ha ha, right? But this time it’s a nuke that explodes, and sends an EMP that knocks out all of the electrical grids and electronics of Japan and South Korea, not to mention our US military . Meanwhile the Norks themselves are hiding out in their tunnels, and what little gadgetry they do have exposed is vacuum tube crap from the sixties that’s largely impervious to EMP insult.

They simultaneously loft a missile in the direction of Diego Garcia, with the same result. Then they come storming out of their tunnels and march on Seoul.

[SandRat]

Interesting.

[Humble Servant]

I think it’s all a very elaborate way of destroying the Birth Certificate evidence.