In January 2021, North Korea outlined plans to upgrade the country's nuclear forces, develop hypersonic weapons and solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles, and build the ability to strike targets out to 15,000 kilometers, which would encompass the entire United States. The ballistic missile threat to our homeland is real, and we need a continual dialogue on how to address it, including a layered approach. For decades American scientists have been working on missile defense technology with the aim of creating a reliable shield for the U.S. homeland. The Missile Defense Agency is the section of the United States government's Department of Defense responsible for developing a layered defense against ballistic missiles. In total, the U.S. missile defense system encompasses a global network with 24-hour surveillance by land-, sea- and space-based sensors, all of which are constantly looking for signs of anything amiss in North Korea. Regional missile interceptors are deployed in Japan, South Korea, Guam, and on U.S. Navy ships, while military bases in Alaska and California are equipped to intercept a missile headed toward the United States.
Purpose: Learn about our national missile defense system and how effective it would be in responding to attack
Facilitator: Craig Korkoian |
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