The US missile defense system and Donald Trump’s Presidency, both have come under a test. The new test of the North Korean Intercontinental Ballistic Missile poses a great challenge to the world in general, and the US in particular.
Is US Missile Defense System Ready for North Korean Missile?
The US missile defense system is considered one of the best in the world. However, only time will tell the readiness of the missile defense system to take on the North Korean ICBM. The US missile defense system has been under development for over three decades. However, the US defense system is not reliable when it comes to shooting down an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile System.
The North Korean nuclear missile test has put the US defense missile system on a priority list. The US missile defense system did not pass all its tests in the past. It failed to stop an ICBM, 3 out of 5 times. Similarly, military observers believe the two successes of the US missile defense system were made to look as useful.
Many military experts believe that testing of a missile defense system is different from a real warlike scenario. Military specialists in the US say that the country has a slim chance of defending against an unexpected missile attack on it. The outgoing Navy Admiral did tell the Congress that the US defense missile system had reliability issues.
The Congress has spent some $190 billion for missile defenses since 1985. The idea was to protect the United States against any potential Russian threats. Some of the systems developed during those times have proven to be effective. However, stopping an ICBM falling from outer space is an entirely different matter.
US Preparation Against Potential North Korean Nuclear Threats
The US Ambassador to the UN said that North Korean Missile Tests are closing room for any diplomatic solutions. She reiterated that the United States might choose to use its military for intervention if there comes a need. Similarly, the Ambassador warned China for not exerting pressure on North Korea that this may put its trading relationship with the US at risk.
The US plans to impose new sanctions on North Korea. However, Russia says it will oppose those sanctions since they do not help resolve the issue. Meanwhile, the Chinese Ambassador said that use of military was not an option.
North Korea claims to have achieved great success with the launch of the Hwasong-14 missile. The state media in North Korea claims the missile can carry a large warhead and can tackle the atmospheric pressures upon reentry.
