American warships off the Korean coast could easily hit the North Korean launch site, which is near the Sea of Japan. But unlike the Syrians, the North Koreans know how to strike back — on the South Korean capital, Seoul, or American bases in Japan. Shooting Down Over the PacificVideoNever has there been a bigger moment for American missile defenses — or greater reluctance to use them. If the North Korean missile’s target was Guam, or the waters near it, shooting it down would be an iffy proposition. In each test, the North Koreans get more information to perfect their future launches.

Source: New York Times September 07, 2017 23:48 UTC