US deploys missile-shield to Guam after North Korea threats
Thu Apr 04 17:41:51 EST 2013
The THAAD is a truck-mounted system that can pinpoint an enemy missile launch, track the projectile and launch an interceptor to bring it down
AFP, file photo
The Pentagon is sending an advanced ballistic missile defence system to the US Pacific territory of Guam in the wake of North Korean threats.North Korea has singled out US military bases in Guam and Hawaii among its potential targets in threats in recent weeks that have put the Korean Peninsula on edge.The Pentagon said it was deploying a Terminal High Altitude Area Defence system (THAAD), which includes a truck-mounted launcher, interceptor missiles, an AN/TPY-2 tracking radar and an integrated fire control system."The United States remains vigilant in the face of North Korean provocations and stands ready to defend US territory, our allies, and our national interests," a Pentagon spokeswoman said. Mark Borthwick, a director of the US Asia Pacific Council in Washington, has told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat program the deployment sends a message to US's allies that it's taking the situation seriously."It means at a high altitude it can cover a very broad area of defence, and the capacity therefore amounts to a good deal more than Guam," he said."Similarly the destroyer capacity could also cover a broad range, so really the idea is to demonstrate...Guam may be a staging point but we are looking out for a broader region."Earlier, US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel cited a "real and clear" danger from North Korea, saying their actions threatened the interests of South Korea and Japan, as well as US interests in the Pacific and Asia."They have nuclear capacity now, they have missile delivery capacity now," he said."We are doing everything we can, working with the Chinese and others, to defuse that situation on the peninsula."I hope the North will ratchet its very dangerous rhetoric down." Guam is a US island territory 3,380 kilometres south-east of North Korea in the Pacific Ocean.The territory is home to 6,000 American military personnel, including Marines and submarine and bomber crews.The announcement comes as the North Korean Army says its has final approval to launch "merciless" military strikes on the United States, involving the possible use of "cutting-edge" nuclear weapons."The moment of explosion is approaching fast," the North Korean military said, warning that war could break out "today or tomorrow".In a statement published by the official KCNA news agency, the General Staff of the Korean People's Army said it was formally informing Washington that US threats would be "smashed by...cutting-edge smaller, lighter and diversified nuclear strike means"."The merciless operation of (our) revolutionary armed forces in this regard has been finally examined and ratified," it said.
We formally inform the White House and Pentagon that the ever-escalating US hostile policy toward the DPRK and its reckless nuclear threat will be smashed by the strong will of all the united service personnel...and cutting-edge smaller, lighter and diversified nuclear strike means of the DPRK, and that the merciless operation of its revolutionary armed forces in this regard has been finally examined and ratified.
Spokesman for the General Staff of the Korean People's Army
The White House has told North Korea to stop making threats."We've seen today's statement by North Korea, again making unhelpful and unconstructive threats," said National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden."It is yet another offering in a long line of provocative statements that only serve to further isolate North Korea from the rest of the international community and undermine its goal of economic development."North Korea should stop its provocative threats and instead concentrate on abiding by its international obligations."Despite a successful long-range rocket launch in December, most experts believe North Korea is years from developing a genuine inter-continental ballistic missile that could strike the mainland United States.Hawaii and Guam would also be outside the range of its medium-range missiles, which would be capable, however, of striking US bases in South Korea and 
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