(CNN) If North Korea fires a missile at a US target or ally, there are a number of defense systems that could shoot it down. The Patriot and Aegis systems are already deployed in the Pacific region. THAAD, the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, can shoot down short- and medium-range ballistic missiles in the latter stages of their flight as they plunge toward their targets. But its presence in South Korea might be just as important for its sophisticated radar -- the AN/TPY-2 X-Band radar -- which could provide the first warning of any missile launched from North Korea.

Source: CNN March 07, 2017 12:22 UTC