Missile defense system against N. Korea crucial

For years now, many harsh words but few concrete actions from the international community have done little to dissuade North Korean President Kim Jong Un from reining in his irresponsible and illegal buildup of a nuclear weapons program threatening the world.

That premise was validated once again this week when the Pyonyang regime launched a three-stage rocket Sunday that many believe could serve as a lean but mean intercontinental missile. That reckless action came on the heels of the Communist nation’s fourth nuclear test last month 30 miles northwest of Kilju City.

As North Korea’s laundry list of violations of international law continues to mount, Kim, like some demented Energizer bunny, just keeps on going. And why wouldn’t he? Thus far, his punishment has amounted to little more than routine condemnations from the United States and the United Nations buttressed by relatively mild trade sanctions.

Many analysts suspect Sunday’s launch was designed to fit nuclear warheads to missiles, thus giving the nation the capability to commence nuclear strikes against its wealth of enemies, most notably South Korea, Japan and the United States. In addition, North Korea has restarted a military-related plutonium reactor and has accelerated its work on a hydrogen bomb.

Though most believe the threat of attack is not immediately imminent, the world can no longer afford to sit idly by and let Kim’s misguided yet grandiose nuclear ambitions devolve into destructive global madness.

No, this is not the time to initiate plans for any military attack against North Korea. That would likely only embolden North Korea toward expediting its deluded dream of annihilating its enemies. But yes, it is long past time to adopt more proactive strategies that include establishment of missile defense systems for Kim’s bull’s-eye targets.

Toward that end, South Korea’s agreement this week to actively engage with the United States to construct a missile defense shield looks promising and should be pursued with all due vigor.

CAPABILITIES OF THAAD

Specifically, the U.S. has proposed deploying the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense System (THAAD) near the border with North Korea. THAAD missiles are reported to be highly deployable and work by firing anti-ballistic missiles against enemy missiles either inside or outside the Earth’s atmosphere. They include truck-mounted launchers, radars, interceptor missiles and global communications links.

In announcing plans for the system to be operated by U.S. forces in South Korea, Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook earlier this week was direct: “North Korea continues to develop their nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, and it is the responsibility of our alliance to maintain a strong defense against those threats. THAAD can add an important capability in a layered and effective missile defense.”

Considering the speed at which North Korea has moved in recent months to strengthen its military arsenal, the U.S. and its Western alliance must implement those plans expeditiously. Cook estimates the system could be deployed within one month’s time.

The THAAD network would serve not only to provide heightened security to South Korea, it could send a message to Kim from the international law-abiding community that enough is enough.

Coupled with the THAAD deployment should be measures to pressure China, North Korea’s powerful ally and the key objector for years to a missile defense system, to cease propping up the North economically and politically. Toward that end, President Barack Obama should quickly sign a bill approved Wednesday by Congress slapping tough new sanctions against individuals, companies and foreign governments that contribute to North Korea’s nuclear program and ballistic missile development. Also penalized would be those who send luxury goods or aid the regime’s censorship or human-rights abuses. That provision is squarely aimed at China.

As all of this proves, the long-standing U.S. policy of “strategic patience” by the Obama administration toward North Korea has been counterproductive. It’s time to send North Korea a stern message that our patience has worn thin. Rapid deployment of the missile defense system coupled with harsh new sanctions represent a solid starting point.