Never Fear: Timing Is Everything

"The United States has missile defence systems in place to protect us from limited ICBM attacks, but North Korea in particular has recently made advances in its capabilities and is engaged in a series of irresponsible and reckless provocations."
U.S. Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel

That is somewhat understated, which is to say to describe the belligerent threats emanating from the North Korean Dwarf Society of the Unhinged, as 'irresponsible and reckless provocations". North Korea's Dear Leader has given warning to the government and the people of South Korea that they will soon die in a "sea of fire".

And the threat to which U.S. Defence Secretary Hagel is responding on behalf of his government and his people is the further cranky promise to stage pre-emptive nuclear attacks on Washington. North Korea is determined to commit to the destructive frying crusade of the entitled before the dreadfully noxious United States launches attacks on poor little North Korea.

It would present as an amusing skit worthy of a theatrical performance of great acclaim if it were not so starkly frightening that an ignorant little popinjay surrounded by his generals addicted to the promise of power and world renown tinged with the kind of fear that would promise to generate the respect North Korea deserves was not in possession of missiles and rockets that will be tipped with the miniaturized nuclear tips earlier tested.

"North Korea's commitment to develop long-range missile technology that could pose a direct threat to the United States", helpfully explained James Clapper, Director of National Intelligence, motivates that country to spend billions and put in place anti-missile launch sites, interceptors to be fired from key protective bases at intercontinental ballistic missiles sent as costly new gifts courtesy of North Korea to his adoring American public.

To that purpose, in line with a report from the U.S. National Research Council released last fall recommending a new eastern, ground-based missile interceptor site "to protect the eastern United States and Canada against any potential threats that are limited in nature" (wot?), plans are to proceed with their installation, likely at Fort Drum, close to Watertown, New York where a missile communications centre to help direct ground-based interceptors fired from west coast bases at incoming ICBMs is under construction.

Billions being invested in these interceptors, to beef up the existing ones in place in underground silos at Fort Greely, Alaska and Vandenberg Air Force Base, in San Luis Obispo, California.  If it will serve to satisfy the megalomaniacal desires of North Korea's Dear Leader to know that the most powerful country on the planet is scrambling to defend itself from their threatened attacks, perhaps the entertainment factor alone, might convince Kim Jung-Un to just sit tight and giggle.

On the other hand, North Korea is not alone in its fanciful flights of mass destruction. The American Defence Department estimates Iran could test their own ICBM as early as 2015. The Americans estimate the completion of their new interceptors around 2017.