GOV/MIL Senior US Def. Official - North Korea 'capable of attaching nuclear warheads to missiles'

[Housecarl]

November Sierra........Talk about slow walking something.....

For links see article source.....
Posted for fair use.....
http://news.sky.com/story/north-korea-capable-of-attaching-nuclear-warheads-to-missiles-10688506

North Korea 'capable of attaching nuclear warheads to missiles'

Pyongyang has conducted a series of missile launches in the wake of its fourth nuclear test in January.

22:24, UK,
Thursday 08 December 2016

North Korea is now capable of attaching nuclear warheads to missiles but has not mastered hitting a target, a senior US defence official has said.

Pyongyang has conducted a series of missile launches in the wake of its fourth nuclear test in January, despite international condemnation.

Experts have concluded North Korea is able to make nuclear warheads small enough to arm Scud missiles, but it is unclear if they can put weapons on larger rockets which travel further and can deploy warheads from space.

The defence official said: "Truthfully, they have the capability right now to be able to deliver a nuclear weapon, they are just not sure about re-entry, that's why they continue to test their systems out there."

He added that he believed North Korea can already "mate" a missile with a warhead.

The US is deploying an advanced missile defence system in South Korea in the wake of increased testing by North Korea leader Kim Jong-Un.

The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system will be operational within 10 months, according to the Pentagon, and has sparked strong objections from China and Russia.

Pyongyang's continued nuclear testing has generated concern in the US military, and the Pentagon has devised contingency plans to try and halt its atomic capabilities.

The official added: "It is the threat that keeps me awake at night.

"You've heard other senior leaders say the same thing, primarily because we don't know what the 'Dear Leader' in North Korea really is after."

 

[bw]

If they have enough duct tape ...

 

[Housecarl]

If they have enough duct tape ...

Remember at a minimum we're talking 1950s munitions engineering (arguably 1940s technology) backed up with modern electronics a la former Radio Shack to integrate these warheads onto what are effectively V-2s/SCUDs to SCUDs on steroids for their short through medium range stuff as well as their IRBMs seeing as they've apparently got a workable RV, never mind their "proven" Unha-3 emergency capability ICBM.

 

[Jeep]

I have a feeling that after Jan 20, 2017 there will be no more lines in the sand. You do something against the country, you get bombed.

 

[Housecarl]

For links see article source.....
Posted for fair use.....
http://www.thestatesman.com/world/n...uke-can-t-master-targeting-us-1481237933.html

North Korea can launch nuke, can't master targeting: US

AFP | Washington
December 9, 2016 | 04:32 AM

Pyongyang has conducted a series of missile launches in the wake of its fourth nuclear test in January, to the consternation of regional countries and many in the international community.

While experts say the North is thought to have succeeded in making nuclear warheads small enough to arm Scud missiles, it is unclear if they can put a weapon on a bigger rocket that travels further and deploys a warhead from space.

"Truthfully, they have the capability right now to be able to deliver a nuclear weapon, they are just not sure about re-entry, that's why they continue to test their systems out there," the official said.

He added that he believed the North Koreans can already mate a missile with a warhead.

But "they are not sure of the re-entry capability for a strategic strike, so they are endeavouring to try and overcome that."

In the wake of ramped-up testing by North Korea's leader Kim Jong-Un, the United States is deploying an advanced missile defense system in South Korea.

Despite strong objections from China and Russia, the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system will be ready within about 10 months, the Pentagon says.

North Korea's continued nuclear testing is generating renewed concern in the US military, and the Pentagon has numerous contingency plans to more assertively try to rein in the country's atomic capabilities.

Something we are "very much leaning into (is) being more prepared for the future (in) North Korea," the official said.

"It is the threat that keeps me awake at night. You've heard other senior leaders say the same thing, primarily because we don't know what the 'Dear Leader' in North Korea really is after."

The official noted that the United States and its allies have little leverage over isolationist North Korea.

"We are in a very tenuous situation with not a lot of leverage, not a lot of initiative in terms of negotiations," the official said.

"So as you might imagine, we are preparing for contingency operations to the degree we need to."

The official said the United States has had backup military plans at the ready since the 1953 armistice between the North and South.

 

[Housecarl]

For links see article source.....
Posted for fair use.....
http://news.trust.org/item/20161208214726-g7z9l

North Korea still struggling with nuclear missile re-entry - U.S. official

by Reuters
Thursday, 8 December 2016 21:43 GMT

(Adds background)

By Phil Stewart

WASHINGTON, Dec 8 (Reuters) - North Korea appears able to mount a miniaturized nuclear warhead on a missile but is still struggling with missile re-entry technology necessary for longer range strikes, a senior U.S. military official said on Thursday.

"I think they could mate a warhead with a delivery device. They're just not sure (about) re-entry," said the official, speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity.

"They're endeavoring to overcome that."

North Korea has carried out repeated nuclear and missile tests this year in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions and sanctions and claims it has the capability to mount a nuclear warhead on a missile.

Asked whether North Korea could mate the warhead to the missile, the official said: "I think they can."

North Korea's advancing nuclear weapons program is one of the major national security challenges that awaiting President-elect Donald Trump when he takes office on Jan. 20.

Trump has urged Beijing to do more to rein in its neighbor and told Reuters in May he was willing to talk to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to try to stop Pyongyang's nuclear program, in what would be a major shift in U.S. policy toward the isolated nation.

There are about 28,500 U.S. troops based in South Korea helping to defend the country against nuclear-armed North Korea, which has remained in a technical state of war with the South since the 1950-53 Korean conflict.

The official said the U.S. military was always reviewing potential responses to threats from the North, acknowledging greater attention on the issue in recent months.

"We're preparing for everything that might evolve based on (Kim's) very, very provocative behavior," the official said.

The U.N. Security Council, which includes China, unanimously voted to impose new, tougher sanctions on North Korea a week ago.

But neither sanctions, imposed by Washington since 1950, nor the so-called six-party talks with Pyongyang to suspend its nuclear program in return for diplomatic rewards and energy assistance, have stopped North Korea from testing nuclear devices.

Earlier this year, Admiral Bill Gortney, the officer responsible for defending U.S. air space, told a Senate panel it was "prudent" for him to assume North Korea had the ability to miniaturize a nuclear weapon and put it on an intercontinental ballistic missile that could target the United States.

The U.S. missile defense system is in the process of expanding its missile interceptors to 44 from 30 by the end of 2017. Forty will be at Fort Greely, Alaska, and four at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

The interceptors are designed to destroy a missile in space midway through its flight. (Reporting by Phil Stewart; Editing by Chris Reese and Lisa Shumaker)