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WASHINGTON -
- North Korea fired three missiles Saturday, a move anticipated by the U.S., which has expressed growing confidence in its own emerging missile-defense system.
Two missiles were fired about 8 a.m. local time, and the third was fired later in the morning; the South Korea Defense Ministry was trying to confirm whether they were short- or middle-range missiles. A ministry official did not give any further details and spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to media.
A South Korean news agency report, quoting an unidentified government official, said North Korea fired short-range missiles that appeared to be Scuds.
U.S. military officials, who have been preparing for the testing of long-range missile, said a clash between the missiles of opposing nations is unlikely, and critics of the missile-defense system said it would waste time and money.
Nonetheless, military preparations for possible action are the most advanced yet, in part because of fears that a test as soon as this weekend could involve a long-range missile launched toward Hawaii.
Citing the potential threat to Hawaii, Defense Department officials last month deployed a gigantic new sea-based radar system that they say can guide underground interceptor missiles in Alaska and California toward long-range missiles in flight.
The vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine Gen. James Cartwright, said last month he was "90 percent-plus" confident in the ability of the missile-defense system. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said there is a "high probability" the system would work.
The confidence stands in sharp contrast to previous tests.
In 2006 the Pentagon played down expectations that it might use the missile-defense system to try to cut short a North Korean launch, which ended up failing on its own.
Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Henry "Trey" Obering III said the huge U.S. radar system sent to Hawaii-known as sea-based, X-band radar-has significantly expanded U.S. missile-defense capabilities.
"X-band" refers to the electromagnetic frequency at which the radar operates. The higher frequency enables interceptor missiles to distinguish between lethal weapons and "decoys" or other debris that could throw them off.
Three months ago, Gates tamped down speculation the U.S. would try to interrupt what North Korea said was a satellite launch, but what many U.S. experts considered a long-range missile test. In June he expressed optimism about missile-defense capabilities.
Still, many experts and critics of the missile-defense system believe the confidence is misplaced.
"It is completely unwarranted and it is a wild speculation based on assumptions that are almost certainly untrue," said Theodore Postol, an MIT professor who has studied the system.
Despite Pentagon claims of technological advances, for example, Postol argues that the U.S. interceptors would have a difficult time telling a warhead from decoys.
Critics also consider the North Korean threat overstated, given the inaccuracy of Pyongyang's missiles and the fact that they are not equipped during test launches with any kind of warhead.
"Why would you want to shoot at it? It is not armed with a nuclear weapon and it is going to land in the ocean," Postol said.
News services contributed to this report.
jebarnes@tribune.com
Two missiles were fired about 8 a.m. local time, and the third was fired later in the morning; the South Korea Defense Ministry was trying to confirm whether they were short- or middle-range missiles. A ministry official did not give any further details and spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to media.
A South Korean news agency report, quoting an unidentified government official, said North Korea fired short-range missiles that appeared to be Scuds.
U.S. military officials, who have been preparing for the testing of long-range missile, said a clash between the missiles of opposing nations is unlikely, and critics of the missile-defense system said it would waste time and money.
Nonetheless, military preparations for possible action are the most advanced yet, in part because of fears that a test as soon as this weekend could involve a long-range missile launched toward Hawaii.
Citing the potential threat to Hawaii, Defense Department officials last month deployed a gigantic new sea-based radar system that they say can guide underground interceptor missiles in Alaska and California toward long-range missiles in flight.
The vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine Gen. James Cartwright, said last month he was "90 percent-plus" confident in the ability of the missile-defense system. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said there is a "high probability" the system would work.
The confidence stands in sharp contrast to previous tests.
In 2006 the Pentagon played down expectations that it might use the missile-defense system to try to cut short a North Korean launch, which ended up failing on its own.
Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Henry "Trey" Obering III said the huge U.S. radar system sent to Hawaii-known as sea-based, X-band radar-has significantly expanded U.S. missile-defense capabilities.
"X-band" refers to the electromagnetic frequency at which the radar operates. The higher frequency enables interceptor missiles to distinguish between lethal weapons and "decoys" or other debris that could throw them off.
Three months ago, Gates tamped down speculation the U.S. would try to interrupt what North Korea said was a satellite launch, but what many U.S. experts considered a long-range missile test. In June he expressed optimism about missile-defense capabilities.
Still, many experts and critics of the missile-defense system believe the confidence is misplaced.
"It is completely unwarranted and it is a wild speculation based on assumptions that are almost certainly untrue," said Theodore Postol, an MIT professor who has studied the system.
Despite Pentagon claims of technological advances, for example, Postol argues that the U.S. interceptors would have a difficult time telling a warhead from decoys.
Critics also consider the North Korean threat overstated, given the inaccuracy of Pyongyang's missiles and the fact that they are not equipped during test launches with any kind of warhead.
"Why would you want to shoot at it? It is not armed with a nuclear weapon and it is going to land in the ocean," Postol said.
News services contributed to this report.
jebarnes@tribune.com
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