U.S. Missile Defense Systems Monitor D.P.R.K. Tests

The U.S. missile defense system was operating this week as North Korea launched seven ballistic missiles, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, July 3).

“What I will tell you is that each and every launch was detected and monitored, and that interceptors were operational during the missile launches that took place,” said U.S. Defense Department spokesman Bryan Whitman.

“The commander of NORAD (the North American Air Defense Command) was able to determine rather quickly that the missiles didn’t pose a threat to the United States or its territories,” he said (Agence France-Presse/Yahoo!News, July 5).

A U.S. military Defense Support Program satellite detected the long-range Taepodong 2 seconds after its launch engines ignited, the Washington Times reported today.

Given that the Taepodong 2 quickly crashed, U.S. interceptors were not loaded with a “weapons task plan,” which includes tracking and speed data that provides the interceptor with flight path instructions.

U.S. Northern Command said in a statement that all seven missiles were detected and tracked “immediately” after firing (Bill Gertz, Washington Times, July 6).

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