U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter has vowed to shoot down a North Korean missile if it threatens the U.S. or its friends or allies.

Carter made the remark on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, saying the U.S. tries to stay one step ahead of the North Koreans.

[Sound bite: U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter (Korean)]
"If it were coming, if it were threatening to us, yes. That is, if it's predicted impact on one of our friends or allies, yes, we would shoot it down."
"We're ready to defend the Korean Peninsula and defend our friends and interests there. So in the defense department, our job is to stay one step ahead of the North Koreans."

While calling the North Korean weapons program a serious threat to the U.S., Carter argued that his government is staying ahead by upgrading missile defense systems in terms of number and type.

He also said the U.S. has deployed missile defenses in South Korea, Japan and Guam.

Earlier on Sunday, a spokesman for the North’s Foreign Ministry warned through the North’s state media that the regime will test-launch an intercontinental ballistic missile(ICBM) at anytime and anyplace of its top leadership's choosing.

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