Alaska missile systems on alert after North Korea incident

Print

Fort Greely, Alaska   

Nearly a dozen missiles in Alaska and California were placed on alert and made ready to fire during North Korea's missile tests, but authorities quickly determined there was no threat.

A couple of weeks ago, when the United States learned that the North Koreans were preparing to launch the long-range Taepodong-2, officials said the U.S. missile defense system was "operational," meaning it was ready for possible use in the event of a threatening missile launch.

Statements Tuesday and Wednesday from the U.S. Northern Command, which is responsible for defending U.S. territory, acknowledged that two interceptor missiles in underground silos at this Central California base and nine more at Alaska's Fort Greely were operational.

Command officials declined to discuss conditions under which the missiles might be fired, but said in a statement the North Korean missiles "posed no threat" to the U.S. or its territories.

Vandenberg spokesman, Staff Sgt. Allen Puckett, declined to comment Wednesday.

A defiant North Korea fired seven missiles this week, all of which apparently fell into the Sea of Japan. One of the missiles was a long-range type that may be capable of reaching the U.S., but it failed after 35 or 40 seconds after launch.

The Northern Command said it would continue to monitor the situation using sensors on the ground, sea and space.

The ground-based ballistic missile interceptors are designed to shoot down missiles in mid-air. They are the centerpiece of the Bush administration's vision for a layered missile defense shield.

Critics have charged that the defense system is unreliable, citing a series of test failures.