North’s Missile Development / South’s Possible Deployment
Interceptor Shield Report
Nathan J Hunt
July 7, 2009
The government of North Korea leading up to the fourth of July weekend conducted short range ground to ground missile tests launching 4 missiles on July 2nd and on the 4th of July conducted seven suspected medium range scud type missile launches from the east coast of North Korea.
As provocative as these launches are the North has yet to launch their longest range Taepodong-2 that has been moved to a long range missile testing site and is awaiting assembly since this action could possibly tip the balance and lead to possible military action against the North.
The North Korean government has so far ignored all UN resolutions aimed at curbing their proliferation of ballistic missile and developing nuclear ability and as of to date seems determined to continue to field and test their systems nuclear and ballistic missile systems. The North actions are now effecting the government of SouthKorea and pushing them even publicly be discussing the action of fielding their own ballistic missile systems to be able to target the North, this action would be a step in the wrong direction and would just increase ballistic missile proliferation on the Korean Peninsula and place more emphasize on offensive missile systems and not on defense to counter these systems.
Missile defense since 2001 has been steadily improving and is a growing proven effectiveness against ballistic missile systems. The US should continue work a long side the South and help provide the needed systems to protect the South so they do not feel a push to acquire and field their own ballistic missile systems.
The North’s ballistic missile threat is not just a matter that effects the south but affects all of Asia and the United States as North Korea’s ability grows so does the threat posed to our allies and the United States. The United States to be able to face this growing situation needs to continue to field and deploy systems to counter these rising threats and maintain a firm stance that we will not back down nor will we abandon our allies.
