A conservative view on history as we make it

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

U.S. Activates Missile Defense

WASHINGTON (June 21) - The United States has activated its ground-based interceptor missile-defense system amid concerns over an expected North Korean missile launch, a U.S. defense official said Tuesday.

Pentagon officials declined to say whether they would try to shoot down any missile launched by the reclusive communist state, but other U.S. officials have said that is unlikely, assuming the launch is aimed at open water.

Many U.S. experts say Pyongyang has a legal right to test and there are questions about the accuracy of U.S. missile defenses.

Pyongyang had no immediate comment, but a North Korean official said earlier the country does not feel bound by pledges to halt test firings of long-range missiles.

A U.S. defense official confirmed a Washington Times report that the Pentagon had switched its multibillion-dollar missile-defense system from test mode to operational.

"It's good to be ready," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Pentagon spokesman Eric Ruff, asked whether the United States would try to shoot down a North Korean missile, said: "We have a limited missile-defense system ... We don't discuss the alert status or the specific capabilities."

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