North Korean missile tests

North Korea has launched five missile tests so far in 2017. The latest launch in mid-April, though assessed as a failure, came hours after North Korea rolled out intercontinental ballistic missiles and other military hardware at a big parade to celebrate the birthday of the country's late founder, Kim Il Sung, a grandfather of current leader Kim Jong Un. The festivities took place amid concerns that North Korea is possibly preparing for its sixth nuclear test or a significant rocket launch, such as its first test flight of an ICBM. Let us see -briefly- some details about each of the five tests that have already occurred this year:

Feb. 12

In February, North Korea successfully tested a land-based KN-15 missile, a new solid-fuel intermediate-range missile, which traveled 310 miles into the Sea of Japan. Gen. John Hyten, the commander of U.S. Strategic Command labeled the launch as “a major advancement” by North Korea because it was "a new solid medium range ballistic missile off a new transporter erector launcher."

March 6

In early March, North Korea launched five medium-range Scud-type missiles. Shortly after this test occurred, the U.S. delivered the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system to South Korea, a process which the U.S. started working on with its ally after the flurry of North Korean missile tests in 2016. THAAD is a missile defense shield designed to intercept short and medium range missiles.

March 21

Later in the month, North Korea tested a mobile-launched missile which exploded "within seconds of launch," according to U.S. Pacific Command. U.S. officials did not identify what type of missile was tested since it exploded so soon after launch.

April 4

On April 4, a KN-17 missile launch came just days before Chinese President Xi Jinping met with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago, during which the pair discussed how to curb North Korea's missile and nuclear programs. U.S. officials said the missile spun out of control and landed in the Sea of Japan after traveling 34 miles.

April 16

Less than two weeks later, North Korea launched another KN-17 that exploded shortly after launch.

(Read more)

Estado actual de la disuasión nuclear

El pasado 5 de mayo, los comandantes supremos del U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), del Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) y del U.S. Submarine Forces han participado en un simposio acerca del estado actual de las fuerzas de disuasión nuclear, organizado por la University of Central Missouri (Warrensburg, Missouri).

En palabras del Almirante Cecil D. Haney, comandante supremo del USSTRATCOM, "La disuasión estratégica constituye uno de los pilares del futuro de nuestra nación, y debe ser considerado un asunto de máxima prioridad". Haney hizo especial hincapié en la importancia de la disuasión nuclear como elemento fundamental de la estrategia defensiva estadounidense, recalcando la necesidad de mantener unas fuerzas nucleares tan fiables como preparadas: "Aunque se ha disminuido el número de cabezas nucleares, el peligro no ha disminuido," afirmó Haney. "Vivimos en un mundo donde la amenaza se ha visto incrementada, lo cual implica disuadir a múltiples países de manera simultanea y en múltiples escenarios."

Uno de esos escenarios es el mar, donde la U.S. Navy dispone principalmente de una fuerza de submarinos nucleares armados con misiles balísticos dispuestos en todo momento para ser disparados. A este respecto, el Vicealmirante Michael Connor, comandante de las U.S. Submarine Forces, habló sobre la triada nuclear y el papel de la U.S. Navy en la disuasión estratégica: "La demostrada capacidad de la triada constituye un aviso para potenciales adversarios de que no sería una buena idea llegar a un conflicto, ya fuese nuclear o convencional," dijo Connor.

Otro escenario es el espacio aereo, donde la USAF dispone de bombarderos B-2 y B-52, así como de misiles balísticos intercontinentales Minuteman III, que constituyen las otras dos piezas de la triada. Ampliando los comentarios de su contraparte, el Teniente General Stephen Wilson, comandante supremo del AFGSC, hizo especial hincapie en el hecho de que las armas nucleares han detenido la posibilidad de una guerra a gran escala entre las grandes potencias mundiales, lo cual exige siempre mantenerlas al día para evitar un desastre a gran escala.

91st Missile Wing gets new leader

Command of the 91st Missile Wing was transferred Tuesday from Col. Robert Vercher to Col. Michael Lutton. Vercher will become deputy director of mission assessment and analysis at U.S. Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska — a position Lutton has held for the past two years. 

The 91st Missile Wing oversees 150 Minuteman III missiles buried in silos across 8,500 square miles in northwest and north central North Dakota, and is assigned to Air Force Global Strike Command, which oversees nuclear missiles and bombers.

Kehler lauds capability, credibility of nuclear enterprise

Kehler was deputy commander of U.S. Strategic Command during the August 2007 "Bent Spear" incident in which nuclear-equipped missiles were mistakenly transported nearly 1,500 miles on the wing of a B-52 Stratofortress. (Read more)

N. Korea illustrates ‘hybrid’ military threats, US general says

“North Korea and their cycle of provocation I think was another dramatic indicator of the kinds of hybrid threats that we could be facing as the future approaches,” Gen. Robert Kehler, head of the U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM), said at a congressional seminar. (Read more)