August 30, 20178 yr Author Kim continues to push increasingly dangerous buttons. And this is a problem. China Refuses to Condemn North Korea’s New Missile Launch (The Diplomat)
September 15, 20178 yr Author US military assesses North Korea tested H-bomb as country conducts another launch (DefenseNews)
September 15, 20178 yr Author North Korea Overflies Japan With Another Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile: Early Analysis (The Diplomat)
September 16, 20178 yr Author A THAAD battery in Japan could have intercepted it, don't you think? Much too high of an altitude for THAAD.
September 16, 20178 yr Author Could an AEGIS ship? If the Aegis ship was in the right place during the ascent or terminal phase. But not during apogee.
September 17, 20178 yr Could that be the reason why they launched the missile from the area around the capital, which is further inland? I recall reading reports that they were moving some missile towards the coast for a speculated test flight. If the missile was launched somewhere along the eastern coast, the US would have the chance to shoot it down. But as you correctly stated, not where the fired it from. I know see why the THAAD was not in a position to intercept the missile.. I wonder however, what would have happened, had it malfunctioned and had it taken another trajectory, allowing it to fall somewhere into/around Japan. Would the Japanese have tried to intercept it? They don't have THAAD, but would they try to shoot it down with PAC-3s?
September 17, 20178 yr Author Could that be the reason why they launched the missile from the area around the capital, which is further inland? I recall reading reports that they were moving some missile towards the coast for a speculated test flight. If the missile was launched somewhere along the eastern coast, the US would have the chance to shoot it down. But as you correctly stated, not where the fired it from. Possibly, yes. It certainly makes Aegis/SM-3 intercept much less likely. Notice as well that the recent IRBM test flights have been put on trajectories that take them over the least Japanese soil or populated areas, and avoid looking like they might threaten Kadena or Guam. I know see why the THAAD was not in a position to intercept the missile.. I wonder however, what would have happened, had it malfunctioned and had it taken another trajectory, allowing it to fall somewhere into/around Japan. Would the Japanese have tried to intercept it? They don't have THAAD, but would they try to shoot it down with PAC-3s? If it looked like the missile (or a part of it) was going to come down in a populated area, absolutely I think they would attempt an intercept. Even if success was unlikely.
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