As Missile Threat Grows, U.S. Defenses Lag Behind – By Ben Solis (AMAC) / March 27, 2022
In a shocking development Thursday, North Korea tested a massive new intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the East Coast of the United States. The news is the latest sign that amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, other top U.S. adversaries are only growing more emboldened. But even with the missile threat increasing, U.S. defenses are struggling to keep up, due at least in part to a concerning lack of funding from Congress.
The North Korean 82-foot long Hwasong-17 missile tested this week was the largest liquid-fueled missile ever fired by any country from a ground-based vehicle. The projectile, which has the potential to carry multiple nuclear warheads, traveled 680 miles during a 67-minute flight before landing in waters between North Korea and Japan. Following the launch, North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un vowed to expand the North’s nuclear war deterrent while preparing for a “long-standing confrontation” with the United States.
At the same time, the threat to U.S. national security from China also continues to grow in the region. Last week, General Kenneth S. Wilsbach, the head of Air Force operations for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, warned of China’s militarization of three disputed islands in the South China Sea. Additionally, a leaked Russian intelligence report claimed that Chinese President Xi Jinping has plans to make a move on Taiwan this fall.
That report was lent some credibility last Friday as China’s newest aircraft carrier, reportedly armed with long-range and medium-range missile launchers, passed near the island of Kinmen close to the port of Xiamen, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said in a statement.
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