US interceptors 'were ready'

2006-07-06 08:17

Washington - The United States for the first time confirmed on Wednesday that it had readied its missile interceptors to meet a specific threat - North Korea's launch of a long-range missile said to be capable of reaching Alaska.

The intercontinental Taepodong 2 missile fell harmlessly into the Sea of Japan less than a minute after launch, along with at least five shorter-range missiles, leaving in doubt whether any shootdown attempt would have worked.

"What I will tell you is that each and every launch was detected and monitored and that the interceptors were operational during the missile launches that took place," Bryan Whitman, a Pentagon spokesperson, told reporters.

In the past, US officials have said the fledgling missile defence system, while still being tested, has been made "operational" many times since taking shape in 2004. But they have never specified a specific moment.

No threat to US

"Obviously this was brought up for a specific event," a defence official said, referring to activation of the interceptors to be prepared for the Taepodong 2 shot.

The US northern command operates the interceptors - now numbering nine at Fort Greely, Alaska, and two at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California - as part of its homeland defence mission.

Top commanders were able to determine quickly Pyongyang's launches posed no threat to the United States or its territories, the command said in a statement on Tuesday night.

$92bn spent on 'Star Wars' programme

The system includes early-warning satellites for launch detection, ground- and sea-based radar stations for surveillance and tracking, the interceptors to destroy incoming warheads plus command nodes in Alaska and Colorado.

The Pentagon has shot down mock warheads in five of 10 highly scripted intercept tests of the ground-based system.

The United States has spent more than $92bn on missile defence since then-President Ronald Reagan launched what critics called his "Star Wars" initiative.

- Reuters