Defense Secretary Robert Gates has announced the deployment of the THAAD missile system to protect Hawaii from any possible North Korean missile attack:

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he has ordered the deployment of a new missile defense system and a sophisticated tracking radar to respond to any North Korean missile launch that threatens Hawaii. Meanwhile, America’s top military officer says the U.S. Navy is prepared to try to stop North Korean ships suspected of carrying weapons banned by a new United Nations Security Council resolution.

Secretary Gates says the United States is watching North Korea’s missile launch preparations “very closely” and he has ordered a new high-altitude missile interceptor system deployed to Hawaii, along with a floating radar system to provide tracking data.

“We do have some concerns if they [North Korea] were to launch a missile in the direction of Hawaii,” said Secretary Gates. “I’ve directed the deployment again of THAAD [Terminal High Altitude Area Defense] missiles to Hawaii and the SBX [Sea Based X-Band] radar has deployed away from Hawaii to provide support. Without telegraphing what we will do, I would just say I think we are in a good position, should it become necessary, to protect American territory.”  [Chosun Ilbo]

The Pentagon is calling this deployment, but it really isn’t a deployment because the system is already in Hawaii conducting flight testing at the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF).  The radar system referred to the in the article is the SBX radar which is something else that has also been discussed here recently at the ROK Drop.  The announcement of this system to protect Hawaii isn’t really news; the real question that will be interesting to see answered is under what circumstances will the THAAD system be allowed to shoot down a North Korean missile?