Pentagon: US ready if North Korea launches missile during inauguration

Published January 19, 2017 7:23pm ET



Amid reports that North Korea has loaded two road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missiles on trucks and could be preparing a test, the Pentagon says it’s ready if North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un orders a launch during the inaugural festivities in Washington.

“What I can tell you is that the preparations made by this department, under this secretary of defense, to ensure that the next administration has everything it needs to hit the ground running at 12:01, has been done,” said Peter Cook, outgoing Pentagon press secretary.

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