Anchor: The U.S. announced on Tuesday that it has conducted a successful test interception of a mid-range ballistic missile using THAAD, the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system. This comes in the wake of North Korea’s intercontinental ballistic missile launch.
Our Park Jong-hong has this report.
 
Report: The U.S. Missile Defense Agency(MDA) said the THAAD system based in Kodiak, Alaska successfully detected, tracked and shot down an intermediate range ballistic missile target in a test that carries greater significance in the wake of North Korea’s recent missile launches.
 
The target was air-launched over the Pacific Ocean north of Hawaii. With the latest test on Tuesday, the missile defense agency claims all 14 tests of the THAAD system until now demonstrated 100 percent accuracy.
 
The agency said the test was carried out under actual conditions. Information on the mock missile target such as the time and coordinates were not notified to the Pacific Spaceport Complex in Alaska.
 
MDA Director Lieutenant General Sam Greaves said the test demonstrates the capabilities of the THAAD system.
 
He added that it continues to protect U.S. citizens, deployed forces and allies from a real and growing threat.
 
The U.S. Department of Defense said the THAAD test was scheduled months before North Korea’s firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile(ICBM).
 
But it did say that the intercepting test will boost defense capabilities against threats from North Korea.
 
Experts point out that THAAD is designed to intercept ballistic missiles in mid-air within an intermediate range and does not apply to ICBMs.
 
The U.S. has been placing more pressure on North Korea recently by deploying a series of long-range strategic bombers and conducting a bombing drill on mock targets.
Park Jong-hong KBS World Radio News

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