N. Korea May Launch Missile Toward Hawaii

18 June 2009

A Japanese newspaper said North Korea is preparing to launch a long-range ballistic missile toward the Pacific U.S. state of Hawaii in early July.

Theater High Altitude Area Defense THAAD missile launcher

The Daily Yomiuri said Japan's Defense Ministry believes a Taepodong-2 missile or an upgraded version was delivered to the northwest Tongchang-ri launch site from a plant near Pyongyang on May 30. It quoted the ministry as saying the missile could be launched between July 4 and 8. But it said defense officials do not believe the missile can reach the Hawaiian islands.

A separate report by the International Crisis Group warned that North Korea's army has between 2,500 and 5,000 tons of chemical weapons, including mustard gas, sarin and other deadly agents.

Daniel Pinkston, the group's representative in Seoul, said Thursday that in conventional terms North Korea is weak and could resort to chemical weapons if a conflict with the South escalates.

North Korea has threatened to launch a long-range missile in retaliation for new sanctions passed by the United Nations Security Council following its May 25 nuclear test, as well as a series of missile launches.

Pyongyang has also vowed to restart its nuclear weapons program.

In Tokyo Thursday, Philippine President Gloria Arroyo and Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso pledged in a joint statement to seek an end to North Korea's nuclear programs.

In Moscow, Russian President Dmitri Medvedev and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao expressed "serious concern" about the situation in North Korea and called for the "swiftest possible resumption" of six-nation disarmament talks. The negotiations are aimed at giving Pyongyang fuel and other benefits in return for dismantling its nuclear weapons program.

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has said his government will not allow Pyongyang to possess nuclear weapons under any circumstances.

The United States has deployed missile defense equipment to the Pacific amid reports alleging that North Korea has threatened to fire a ballistic missile toward Hawaii, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today.

“We're obviously watching the situation in the north, with respect to missile launches, very closely,” Gates said at a Pentagon news conference with Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “And we do have some concerns if they were to launch a missile to the west, in the direction of Hawaii.”

Gates has ordered the deployment of Theater High Altitude Area Defense missiles to Hawaii and the sea-based SBX Radar near the island state to provide support. “Based on my visit to Fort Greely, the ground-based interceptors are clearly in a position to take action,” he added, referring to the Army launch site for anti-ballistic missiles near Fairbanks, Alaska.

“Without telegraphing what we will do, I would just say I think we are in a good position should it become necessary to protect American territory,” the secretary said.

Meanwhile, Mullen reiterated the U.S. intent to adhere to a United Nations resolution allowing Americans to conduct permissive searches of North Korean vessels.

“We intend to vigorously enforce the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1874,” Mullen said, noting that the United States has “hail and query” authority under Security Council guidelines, meaning American authorities can seek permission from the ship’s crew to board and search its contents.

“If a vessel like this is queried and doesn't allow a permissive search, [the United States] can direct it to go into a port, and the country of that port would…inspect the vessel,” Mullen said, noting that the resolution does not allow for an opposed or noncompliant boarding. The U.N. would be alerted in instances of North Korean vessels refusing searches or possessing weaponry in violation of resolution.

Asked about Pyongyang’s stated stance that it would consider an interdiction of its vessels an act of war, Mullen underscored that the U.N. resolution represents an international commitment.

“It's not just the United States, it's a lot of other countries as well,” he said. “And the north’s steps to further isolate itself, to further noncomply with international guidance and regulations, in the long-run, puts them in a more difficult position.”