The US Congressional Research Service has said that North Korea’s continued development of ballistic missiles shows its intention to strengthen its nuclear capability. Currently, within Congress, measures to strengthen homeland missile defense in response to the North Korean missile threat are under active review. Reporter Lee Jo-eun reports.
The recently updated report “Ballistic Missile Defense” by the US Congressional Research Service (CRS) detailed the size and capabilities of North Korea’s ballistic missiles.
[보고서] “North Korea probably has an arsenal of hundreds of SRBMs that can reach all of South Korea and perhaps dozens of MRBMs, which can reach Japanese and US bases in the region. North Korea has tested two types of road-mobile ICBMs that have the range to hit the US homeland. The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) has assessed that “North Korea’s continued development of ICBMs, IRBMs, and [submarine-launched ballistic missiles] demonstrates its intention to strengthen its nuclear delivery capability.”
North Korea is believed to have hundreds of short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) capable of reaching all of South Korea and dozens of intermediate-range ballistic missiles (MRBMs) capable of reaching Japanese and US bases in the region.
He also said North Korea had tested two types of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) with a range capable of hitting the US mainland.
Citing an assessment by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), the report said, “North Korea’s continued development of ICBMs, intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs), and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) shows North Korea’s intention to strengthen its nuclear delivery capabilities.” he noted that
An assessment of US defense capabilities to counter the ballistic missile threat from hostile countries such as North Korea was also included in the report.
Specifically, the report said, “The US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system is often evaluated as the most advanced ballistic missile defense system in the world,” and that US THAAD batteries are currently used in Guam, Korea, and the Persian Gulf was mentioned.
“The THAAD radar is very powerful and is currently in use in Turkey, Israel and Japan,” he added. “In the future, THAAD batteries will be produced for foreign military sales.”
[보고서] “Many now consider it the most advanced BMD system in the world…US THAAD batteries are now deployed in Guam, South Korea, and the Persian Gulf. THAAD radars are extremely powerful and are currently in use in Turkey, Israel and Japan. Any future THAAD batteries produced will be for Foreign Military Sales.”
Regarding the US Army’s Patriot (PAC-3) system, it was evaluated as “the most stable weapon system” and “Patriot is a mobile air defense system designed to protect areas such as military bases and airfields from advanced aircraft, missiles cruise, and tactical ballistic missiles.”, he explained.
[보고서] “The Army’s Patriot System is the most mature component of the BMDS…Patriot is a mobile, portable system designed to protect areas such as military bases and airfields from advanced aircraft, cruise missiles, and tactical ballistic missiles.
Meanwhile, amid the growing threat of North Korean missiles, the US Congress has recently moved forward with measures to strengthen missile defense capabilities against Guam and Hawaii, which are within range of North Korea’s ICBMs, and to deploy next-generation interceptors next (NGIs) additional. to Alaska.
The Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), due at the end of the year, recommends funding for an integrated air defense system to strengthen missile defenses over Guam and increase funding for programs to deploy homeland defense missile detection radars in Hawaii . We review.
It is also being coordinated within Congress to include a measure in the National Defense Authorization Act to accelerate plans to deploy at least 64 additional NGIs to Alaska.
Mike Rogers, a Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, previously told VOA in connection with North Korea’s ICBM test, which resumed in March, that it is urgent to expand the US mainland defense network to offset the North Korean ICBM threat.
Additionally, Rep. Michael Waltz, Republican secretary of the House Armed Services Committee’s preparedness subcommittee, told VOA, “North Korea’s missile tests increase the threat North Korea’s unstable leader poses to the U.S. homeland and to US forces in the region. “It is urgent to counter the threat and strengthen the missile defense system in the region, including Guam,” he said.
Meanwhile, it is known that South Korea has recently succeeded in its first test launch of a long-range surface-to-air missile (L-SAM) called “Korea THAAD” to intercept the North’s ballistic missiles Korea.
This is Joeun Lee from VOA News.
