US Congress: North Korea seeks to paralyze US missile defense.
Recent advances in North Korea’s ballistic missile program are aimed at developing capabilities to defeat or reduce the effectiveness of US-based missile defenses in the region, the Congressional Research Service reported.
The Bureau of Congressional Research Services said in a report that North Korea was seeking to counter or cripple US missile defense programs based in Northeast Asia.
The report follows a series of North Korean short- and medium-range missile tests conducted this year, according to Yonhap News Agency.
“Recent advances in North Korea’s ballistic missile test program appear to be aimed at developing capabilities to defeat or reduce the effectiveness of US-based missile defenses in the region, including Patriot systems, Aegis ballistic missile defense, and Todd regional defenses,” the report said. ».
“In addition, North Korea’s advance with submarine-launched ballistic missiles represents an attempt to counter Todd surface-to-surface missile defenses by attacking from offshore and off-the-shelf Todd radar,” the congressional arm said.
“North Korea’s missile tests may be aimed at demonstrating its growing capabilities, which in turn may strengthen the credibility of its nuclear deterrent,” Yonhap was quoted as saying.
The report notes that North Korea has imposed a voluntary suspension of nuclear and long-range missile tests since 2017, but that such a halt may have been due to a lack of resources.
“North Korea has improved its ability to attack the entire continent with a ballistic missile through a series of tests in 2017,” he added. “Without further testing, neither North Korea nor others will be able to assess whether the missiles are working as designed.”
