The U.S. plans to soon conduct a new test of its THAAD missile defense system against an intermediate-range ballistic missile in response to North Korea’s recent provocations.
The test was planned months ago, Reuters reported Friday, but it has taken on an increased importance due to North Korea’s launch of a longer-range intercontinental ballistic missile on July 4th.
That launch represents a threshold North Korea had not reached before, according to the Pentagon.
THAAD is a ground-based missile defense system that defends against short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles at the end of its flight.
U.S. officials told Reuters the THAAD test against a simulated attack by an intermediate-range ballistic missile will be the first of its kind.
The THAAD interceptors will be fired from Alaska.
Western experts have said North Korea’s recent intercontinental ballistic missile demonstrated a capability of reaching a distance as far as Alaska.
In May testimony to Congress, Vice Adm. James Syring, then the director of the Missile Defense Agency, said THAAD had a 100 percent successful track record in 13 flight tests.
