19-06-09 U.S. Fortifies Hawaii to Meet Threat From Korea

The U.S. is moving ground-to-air missile defenses to Hawaii as tensions escalate between Washington and Pyongyang over North Korea's recent moves to restart its nuclear-weapon program and resume test-firing long-range missiles.Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Thursday that the U.S. is concerned that Pyongyang might soon fire a missile toward Hawaii.Some senior U.S. officials expect a North Korean test by midsummer,even though most don't believe the missile would be capable of crossing the Pacific and reaching Hawaii.Mr. Gates told reporters that the U.S. is positioning a sophisticated floating radar array in the ocean around Hawaii to track an incoming missile.The U.S. is also deploying missile-defense weapons to Hawaii that would theoretically be capable of shooting down a North Korean missile,should such an order be given, he said."We do have some concerns if they were to launch a missile...in the direction of Hawaii," Mr. Gates said."We are in a good position,should it become necessary,to protect American territory."In another sign of America's mounting concern about North Korea,a senior defense official said the U.S. is tracking a North Korean vessel,the Kang Nam,suspected of carrying weapons banned by a recent United Nations resolution.The U.S. moves come as strains intensify between the U.S. and North Korea.Earlier this year,Pyongyang test-fired a missile that flew over Japan before crashing into the Pacific Ocean.On May 25,Pyongyang detonated a nuclear device at a test site near its border with China,drawing rare rebukes from Moscow and Beijing.President Barack Obama and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak met earlier this week at the White House and agreed to launch a new effort to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear arsenal.In a joint statement,the Obama administration also agreed to maintain the longstanding U.S. vow to defend South Korea from a North Korean attack.Japan's Yomiuri newspaper reported Thursday that North Korea would launch a long-range Taepodong-2 missile at Hawaii from the Dongchang-ni site on the country's northwestern coast on or close to July 4.In his comments to reporters,Mr.Gates didn't directly address the Japanese report or say whether the U.S. had evidence that North Korea was preparing for a launch.Some U.S. officials have said satellite imagery shows activity at a North Korea testing facility that has been used in the past to launch long-range missiles.On a trip to Manila earlier this month,Mr. Gates said the U.S. had "seen some signs" that North Korea was preparing to launch a long-range missile.But he cautioned,that "at this point,its not clear what they're going to do."The stakes would be high for both North Korea and the U.S. in the event of a missile launch