U.S. Defense Secretary: US May Not Shoot Down North Korean ICBM Test

Reuters: U.S. says might not shoot down North Korean ICBM, eying intel

The U.S. military might monitor a North Korean intercontinental ballistic missile test and gather intelligence rather than destroy it, as long as the launch did not pose a threat, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Tuesday.

North Korea declared on Sunday it could test-launch an ICBM at any time from any location set by leader Kim Jong Un, saying a hostile U.S. policy was to blame for its arms development.

"If the missile is threatening, it will be intercepted. If it's not threatening, we won't necessarily do so," Carter said in his final news briefing before President Barack Obama's administration leaves office on Jan. 20.

"Because it may be more to our advantage to, first of all, save our interceptor inventory, and, second, to gather intelligence from the flight, rather than do that (intercept the ICBM) when it's not threatening."

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Doubts are being raised that the U.S. may not be able to shoot down a North Korean ICBM even if they wish they could .... Report: U.S. missile interceptors not completely reliable to deter North Korea (UPI).

Update #1: China's reaction on North Korea's missile program is typical .... too little and too late .... North Korea ICBM Missile Update: China 'Seriously Concerned' Over Pyongyang's Ballistic Missile Threat (International Business Times).

Update #2: No kidding .... Obama's chief of staff: N. Korea should be top priority (Yonhap News Agency)

More News On Growing Tensions between The U.S. And North Korea's Missile Program

Carter: US may not shoot down North Korean test missile -- Washington Examiner
Pentagon sending sea-based radar to Korean peninsula amid growing nuke threat -- FOX News
Stopping a N. Korean Missile No Sure Thing, U.S. Tester Says -- Bloomberg
US ability to shoot down North Korean missile not guaranteed, report says -- FOX News
Can North Korea Bomb America? Nuclear Attack Difficult To Stop, Pentagon Report Says Amid Tensions Over ICBM Program -- IBTimes
US, North Korea Tensions Rise After Missile Test Threat -- VOA
North Korea's nuclear testing is a 'serious threat' to the US, outgoing Defense Secretary warns -- The Independent
North Korea's missile testing 'serious threat' to U.S.: defense secretary -- Reuters
North Korea Missile Threat Seen as Test of Incoming Trump Team -- VOA
North Korea's ICBMs 'Already Capable of Reaching US Territory' -- Sputnik
North Korea Missile Could Strike US: Report -- IBTimes