Continuing Concerns Voiced Over North Korean Nuke/Missile Capabilities

The world-wide pseudo-panic over recent developments in North Korea, as troublesome as these developments may seem, may not be all that threatening -- as far as the US is concerned.

During his last day on the job Friday, the Pentagon’s outgoing independent testing official said the US might be able to successfully intercept missiles from North Korea before they could reach the US.

Bloomberg reports Charles McQueary, director of operational test and evaluation, made the comment as North Korea again goaded the rest of the world with missile tests last week. "I believe we have a reasonable chance... I’d put it ‘likely’... as opposed to putting it ‘unlikely."

One thing that is for sure, says McQueary, is that the US would try, even though defenses are not fully developed. "I wish we were further along, but we are not...if North Korea launched a missile or two against us, we wouldn’t sit back and say, ‘I wonder if we have enough test data in order to launch.’ We would launch."

The Midcourse Defense System is ground-based. Boeing has been the lead contractor for development since 1999. In 13 tests to date, the system has logged 8 successful intercepts.

FMI: www.dod.mil