Chuck Hagel: "The American people should be assured our
interceptors are effective"
But the final phase of the US European Missile Defence programme is being
scrapped to partly fund the project. Due to begin in 2022, it would have sited interceptors in eastern Europe. Mr Hagel cited a "series of irresponsible and reckless provocations" recently
by North Korea. Pyongyang carried out a third nuclear test last month.
A statement in North Korean state media last month also threatened the US
with a pre-emptive nuclear strike.
However, analysts say the regime is years away from producing a missile
capable of carrying a nuclear warhead to the US.
"The US has missile defences to protect us from limited ICBM
[Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile] attacks," Mr Hagel told Friday's press
conference. "But North Korea in particular has recently made advances in its capabilities
and has engaged in a series of irresponsible and reckless provocations." The defence secretary said the US needed to "stay ahead of the threat".
James Miller, Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Policy at the Department
of Defence, later clarified that the final phase of the missile defence
programme had been dropped.
"The prior plan had four phases. The third phase involved the deployment of
interceptors in Poland. And we will continue with phases one through three," Mr
Miller told reporters.
"In the fourth phase, in the previous plan, we would have added some
additional type of interceptors - the so-called SM-3 IIB would have been added
to the mix in Poland.
"We no longer intend to add them but will continue to have the
same number of deployed interceptors in Poland to provide coverage for
all of Nato in Europe," he added.
President George W Bush first proposed a defence shield in Europe, which
incensed Russia.
His successor Barack Obama rolled back on the plans, announcing a much
smaller deployment.
Friday's announcement represents a further toning down of the plans.
The Pentagon said its top North Korea official would be visiting Russia and
Germany next week.
The Alaska and California sites were built during the presidency of George W
Bush as protection from a possible strike by North Korea. Technical difficulties with the interceptors slowed their installation. When asked about the "poor performance" of interceptors during recent trials,
Mr Hagel said further tests would be carried out this year.
"We have confidence in our system," he said, "and we certainly will not go
forward with the addition of the 14 interceptors until we're sure we have the
complete confidence we need."
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