Statements and actions by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un since the beginning of 2016.

• Jan 6, 2016 – North Kroea conducted its fourth nuclear test
• Feb 7, 2016 – North Korea launched a satellite into orbit using a long-range rocket
• Mar 7, 2016 – North Korea threatened “indiscriminate” nuclear strikes on the U.S. and South Korea
• Mar 9, 2016 – North Korea claimed to have developed nuclear warheads small enough to fit on ballistic missiles
• Mar 10, 2016 – North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea
• Mar 13, 2016 – North Korea said developed hydrogen bomb placed on top of an ICBM can wipe out everyone in Manhattan
• Mar 14, 2016 – North Korea announced its plans to conduct another nuclear test and flight-test a ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead
• Mar 18, 2016 – North Korea launched two MRBMs into the sea off the east coast of the Korean Peninsula

+

Admiral Bill Gortney, head of the U.S. Northern Command before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

• Mar 10, 2016 – “It is ‘prudent’ to assume North Korea had the ability to miniaturize a nuclear weapon and put it on an intercontinental ballistic missile that could target the United States.”
• Mar 10, 2016 – “We’re going to need more capability to engage the threat throughout its flight, keep them on the ground, kill them on the (launch) rails, kill them in boost phase and then get more warheads in space in mid-course.”

+

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Joseph Dunford and the Secretary of Defense, Ash Carter argued in support of the FY2017 PB in a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

• Mar 17, 2016 – ” The fiscal year 2017 defense budget request begins to address the most critical investments required…to the extent possible within the resources provided by the 2015 Bipartisan Budget Act, it addresses the department’s five challenges. It does so by balancing three major areas: investment in high-end capabilities, the capability and capacity to meet current operational demands, and the need to rebuild readiness after an extended period of war.”
• Mar 17, 2016 – “The United States has a requirement to maintain joint forces that have the capability and credibility to assure allies and partners, deter aggression, and overmatch any potential adversary…This (2017 defense budget) requires us to continually improve our joint warfighting capabilities, restore full spectrum readiness and develop the leaders who will serve as the foundation for the future.”

=

The Fiscal Year 2017 President’s Budget states a significant decrease in proposed missile defense funding.

• Feb 9, 2016 – President Obama cut total procurement funding by $500 million
• Feb 9, 2016 – President Obama Cut total Research & Development by $322.6 million

MDA FY16 Appropriations (actual amount spent) and FY17 Presidential Budget(what the President is requesting) (In Millions)

All of these items in the annual President’s Budget contribute to our defense against the North Korean threat.

It just doesn’t add up.