The impending North Korean long range ballistic missile technical development test disguised as a satellite launch to appease the international governing bodies announced on February 2nd is condemned by the world at large.
This launch will further demonstrate technical reliability and improved technology for the North Korean strategic ballistic missile forces with a minimum capability to put a payload into orbit. The critical intelligence on this test which will be provided by the U.S. and its allies from their sensors on sea, land, air and space and particularly from Australia.
North Korean has submitted a launch schedule and drop zones for the first and second stages to the International Maritime Organization. These falling areas demonstrate a southern trajectory over the Philippines inserting into a polar orbit. It is to be noted that Japan, Hawaii and the United States are diligently preparing to defend against a possible launch from Western North Korean over Japan. Prior North Korean tests, conducted without warning, have gone west over Japan.
Besides the increased technical reliability and engineering prowess required to put a payload in space that North Korea will demonstrate, focus will be placed on the capabilities of the third stage and release of its payload to show maneuverability in space thereby demonstrating ballistic missile targeting, countermeasures and beyond what is required for a satellite insertion. Testing of reentry payloads or vehicles back into the atmosphere would greatly increase North Korea’s ballistic missile technologies and is a possibility on this test.
It has been speculated that the nuclear test last month that the North Korea claimed was a hydrogen fusion nuclear bomb was actually a much less powerful boosted fission nuclear bomb using hydrogen isotopes. This smaller nuclear fueled boosted fission weapon would be able to increase the number of nuclear weapons without increasing their nuclear fuel, which is a significant breakthrough.
It is estimated that North Korea possess an inventory of 10-16 nuclear weapons today with a potential to expand those numbers. Coupled with their ballistic missile rocket forces from all ranges that continue which continue to increase in reliability and sophistication through testing and the unpredictability of leadership along with provocative intent presents the region and the United States an extremely serious threat.
We as a people and world have to negate this threat and preserve safety and defense for the masses that North Korea threatens. Until there is a solution, there is absolutely no choice but to deploy and develop our national and our allied missile defense systems.
Japan
– 2 AN/TPY-2 radars in Kyogamisaki in southern Japan and Shariki in Northern Japan
Okinawa
– 1-1 Air Defense Artillery Patriot Battalion – 4 batteries
Guam
– 1 THAAD battery deployed on the island
Hawaii
-The Sea-based X-band (SBX) radar which is part of the GMD system based in Hawaii, Joint Base Pearl-Hickman, HI is also home to the 613th Air Operations Center. The Pacific Integrated Air and Missile Defense Center is designed to increase joint and multinational IAMD capability, interoperability, integration and knowledge by standardizing academics and education of IAMD professionals across the Pacific; conducting IAMD training events and exercises focused on theater issues; fostering multinational partnerships through IAMD seminars, exercises and information sharing events; and disseminating joint and multinational doctrine, tactics, techniques, procedures, and lessons learned.
California & Alaska & Colorado
-27 ground-based interceptors (GBI) in Fort Greely, AK, and 3 GBIs in Vandenberg AFB, CA. Beale Air Force Base, CA, Clear AFS, AK, and Shemya, AK host Early Warning Radars (UEWR). The Missile Defense Integration and Operations Center (MDIOC)is located in Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado
