The head of the U.S. Northern Command says that U.S. missile defenses are prepared to intercept any incoming North Korean long-range missile.
General Victor Renuart, who is also commander of the U.S.-Canada North American Aerospace Defense Command, which monitors missile launches around the world, made the comment during an interview with The Washington Times Thursday.
Renuart said he has high confidence that the U.S. could interdict any long-range ballistic missiles with ground-based interceptors in Alaska and California before the missiles caused significant damage to any U.S. territory.
The four-star commander said that in addition to long-range interceptors, U.S. missile defenses in the Asia Pacific region include ground-based Patriot anti-missile defenses deployed in South Korea and U.S. Navy’s Aegis-equipped, missile defense ships deployed to waters near Japan
On the U.S. military tailing a North Korean ship suspected of carrying illicit weapons, Renuart said the U.S. has been watching the Kang Nam, which was likely sailing to Myanmar, before abruptly reversing course earlier this week.
In response to the Kang Nam and other provocations by the North, an unnamed U.S. defense official said Pyongyang is “looking for attention.”