Dear Members and Friends,
Yesterday, North Korea tested three ballistic missiles simulating a preemptive strike against South Korean ports and airfields. The first two missiles fired were short-range Scud variants, and the third was a medium-range Nodong, all three were fired into the sea off the east coast of North Korea. According to North Korean state media, the tests successfully simulated air-burst nuclear detonations, which if accurate and proven, would enable North Korean ballistic missiles to detonate above and out of range of the Patriot missile defense systems currently deployed in Korea.
This most recent North Korean provocation marked the 25th missile test this year and validates the decision by the Republic of Korea to deploy a U.S. THAAD system on the peninsula (click here to read an article on the decision to deploy THAAD in South Korea). THAAD can intercept North Korean ballistic missiles in the upper atmosphere and lower space protecting South Korea and its population. This belligerent action from North Korea also demonstrates the vulnerability of South Korean and U.S. forces to nuclear ballistic missile attack. This vulnerability will exist until the U.S. THAAD system is deployed and fully operational near the town of Seongju, South Korea (click here to read an article about the deployment location of THAAD in South Korea), a deployment that would not be operational until 2018.
Today, the United States has available ballistic missile defense (BMD) capability and inventory-including a THAAD Battery in Texas and an Aegis Ashore Site with a TYP-2 Radar in Hawaii that can be easily activated-to better counter and nullify North Korean nuclear ballistic missile threats. These BMD capabilities can be used as an interim measure to better nullify the North Korean missile threat to the Asia-Pacific region until future enhanced missile defense capabilities are deployed.
It remains very troubling that the Obama administration has not put forward a decision to deploy or operationalize these additional BMD systems-which have already been paid for by the tax payers-to reduce and mitigate risks of nuclear ballistic missiles from North Korea. This month, NATO under the direct support of the Obama administration announced activation of a missile defense system in Europe-costing billions-that provides no protection for Americans and does not confront the primary nuclear ballistic missile threat today to the United States: North Korea. The Administration cannot continue to not provide Hawaii and our American forces forward-deployed in Japan and Korea with the best missile defenses available and ignore North Korea’s threatening actions because of failed policies, failed initiatives and failed United Nation resolutions stopping North Korea. The Kim regime has conducted 25 ballistic missile tests this year alone, five occurring this past month, and some analysts believe that North Korea is preparing to conduct its fifth nuclear test.
We can do much better to protect Hawaii and our deployed American Forces and allies in the Pacific.
25 and counting – we are at risk.
North Korea Ballistic Missile and Nuclear prohibited test breakdown in 2016:
July 19, 2016 (23-25)
Successful test launch of two Scud short-range ballistic missiles and one Nodong mid-range. The SRBMs travelled around 500-600 km, indicating they were Hwasong-6 missiles (North Korean variant of Soviet Scud-C). These SRBMs are capable of striking all of South Korea and parts of Japan. The Nodong has a range of around 1,200 km, and can reach all of South Korea, Japan, and Okinawa.
July 9, 2016 (22)
Failed test of the solid-fuel KN-11, which is a North Koran SLBM based on a former Soviet design.
June 22, 2016 (20-21)
Successful launch of two road-mobile intermediate-range Musudan missiles. The Musudan has a speculated range of 3,500 km and is capable of striking targets as far as Guam. The North Koran IRBM is believed to make up the first stage of the KN-08 ICBM.
June 8, 2016
Restarted production of plutonium fuel for its nuclear weapons program.
May 31, 2016 (19)
Fourth failed launch attempt of the road-mobile intermediate-range Musudan missile that is capable of striking Guam.
April 28, 2016 (17-18)
Failed launch attempt of two of the road-mobile intermediate-range Musudan missile that is capable of striking Guam.
Apr 23, 2016 (16)
Tested the solid-fuel KN-11 SLBM.
Apr 15, 2016 (15)
Failed launch attempt of the road-mobile intermediate-range Musudan missile that is capable of striking Guam.
Apr 9, 2016
Successfully tested a large liquid-fuel engine designed for an ICBM, likely the KN-08.
Apr 8, 2016 (14)
Tried to test-launch an SLBM, uncertain if the test was successful or failed.
Apr 1, 2016 (13)
Fired a short-range surface-to-air missile into the sea and tried to jam GPS navigation signals in South Korea.
Mar 29, 2016 (12)
Test fired a short-range missile off its east coast that flew 200 km. Based on the missile’s range, this was possibly a test of North Korea’s KN-02 SRBM, which is solid-fueled and based of the Soviet Scarab SRBM.
Mar 22, 2016
Purportedly tested a solid-fuel engine which would extend the range of its missiles and provide less warning of a launch.
Mar 21, 2016 (7-11)
Fired five projectiles into the sea off the country’s east coast, likely short-range missiles or rockets.
Mar 18, 2016 (5-6)
Launched two Medium Range Nodongs into the sea off the east coast of the Korean Peninsula, one flew about 800 km and was launched from a road-mobile launcher. These missiles have a purported range of 1,200 km and are able to strike all of South Korea, Japan, and can reach Okinawa.
Mar 16, 2016 (4)
Conducted a land-test of its KN-11 SLBM.
Mar 10, 2016 (2-3)
Fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea, they traveled around 500 km and are believed to be Scud-C variants. These missiles are capable of striking all of South Korea and parts of Japan.
Feb 7, 2016 (1)
Launched a satellite into orbit using a long-range rocket over the Super Bowl in San Francisco 4 hours before kickoff. The space launch vehicle used is a variant of the Taepodong-2 called the Unha.
Jan 6, 2016
Conducted a fourth nuclear test.
