Sen. Ted Cruz said Sunday a nuclear bomb test by North Korea makes it essential to invest in missile-interception technology now.
“The risk of their sending a missile that could murder millions of Americans is increasing every day,” the Texas Republican said on ABC’s “This Week.”
Cruz told guest host Martha Raddatz there’s “no doubt” the situation is urgent, but “we also have to plan for the long term.”
“We need to do the investment now so in the years to come we have the intercept capability,” he said, describing a need to deploy existing technologies while improving the ability to shoot down intercontinental ballistic missiles, including from space.
Cruz said “no rational person” wants a war with North Korea, citing high potential casualties.
The senator declined to comment on President Trump’s threat of “fire and fury” in response to North Korean provocation, other than to say “the president speaks in ways I wouldn’t speak.”
He added, however, he saw some value in China and North Korea seeing strong U.S. leadership.
