U.S. bolsters Hawaii's missile defense

problems with the Taepodong-2, Klingner said “it could go significantly farther than it did in April.” He said clues to Pyongyang’s intentions also can be found in the absence of strong rhetoric threatening a first strike.

Klingner speculated the SBX radar system wasn’t deployed in April because the United States did not want to “inflame the situation by indicating it may shoot down the missile. If it has been deployed this time, it’s for intelligence gathering or to be more prepared if the missile is launched in a provocative manner.”

At the time of the April missile test, the U.S. military said the radar system was in port for repairs.

Pentagon officials and experts said they are confident that U.S. missile defense systems would be able to intercept any missiles that might endanger Hawai’i. Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, a top U.S. defense official said he was “90 percent-plus” confident the United States could shoot down a missile launched from North Korea. Marine Gen. James Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, estimated it would take at least three to five years for Pyongyang to overcome technical problems with its long-range missiles and develop the capability of hitting Hawai’i and the U.S. West Coast, and even longer to deliver a nuclear warhead.

At the U.S. Pacific Command at Camp Smith the other day, Lt. Cmdr. Chuck Bell said, “Our concerns about missile activity in North Korea are longstanding and we closely monitor that threat daily.” Gov. Linda Lingle would not comment yesterday on the anticipated North Korean missile launch, referring questions to Maj. Gen. Robert Lee, the state’s adjutant general.

Lee said he was in touch with the local military leaders yesterday. “I’m very assured that our military forces under United States Pacific Command has Hawai’i protected against a North Korean missile. And that’s all I am allowed to say at this point,” he said. Asked whether he had any concerns about the threat, Lee answered: “No.”

Riki Ellison, chairman of the Washington, D.C.-based Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, told the Advertiser he was encouraged to hear that the SBX radar system has been deployed. He criticized the decision not to use it for the April incident. “North Korea is very close to being able to launch something much, much farther, and that’s why we have more concerns. But I’m more confident with the engagement of the SBX system. It should have been used in the prior missile launch,” Ellison said.