Hagel Announces Increased Missile Defense System

US steps up missile defense on growing threat of nuclear attack from North Korea. Julie Noce reports.

Published

2 months ago

Categories

Technology, US

Topics

Military, Technology, United States

People

Julie Noce, Chuck Hagel

Places

United States of America, North Korea, Alaska

Transcript

EDIT CONTAINS 4:3 MATERIAL The U.S. plans to deploy 14 additional anti-missile interceptors in response to a growing nuclear threat from North Korea. U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF DEFENSE CHUCK HAGEL SAYING: "The United States has missile defense systems in place to protect us from limited ICBM attacks, but North Korea in particular has recently made advances in its capabilities and has engaged in a series of irresponsible and reckless provocations." Although experts say the North is still years away from being able to hit the continental U.S. with a nuclear weapon, harsh rhetoric from it's leaders has increased in recent weeks. Earlier this month, the North announced it would no longer adhere to the 1953 armistice that ended the war on the Korean peninsula. The additional missile receptors would be deployed at a site in Alaska by 2017 and would cost the U.S. nearly $1 billion dollars.