MESSAGE SENT – AT 9:44 A.M. ET:  The United States has successfully tested a defensive missile, with serious implications for our clash with North Korea.  From Reuters: 

WASHINGTON, July 11 (Reuters) - The United States said on Tuesday it successfully tested its THAAD missile defense system against an intermediate-range ballistic missile in the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii and Alaska, a key area as tensions with North Korea mount.

A Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) near Kodiak, Alaska, intercepted the ballistic missile target that was launched north of Hawaii, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) said in a statement.

Although the test was planned months ago, the U.S. missile defense test has gained significance following North Korea's July 4 launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that raised concerns about the threat from Pyongyang.

"The successful demonstration of THAAD against an IRBM-range missile threat bolsters the country's defensive capability against developing missile threats in North Korea and other countries around the globe and contributes to the broader strategic deterrence architecture," MDA said in the statement.

U.S. officials have said the test would be the first of the THAAD system to defend against a simulated attack by an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM).

COMMENT:   We must put in a word of caution.  A single successful test does not guarantee that we have a solid defense against incoming missiles.  In the "real world" there will only be a percentage of defense missiles that will hit their mark.  We aim for the highest percentage, of course.

There's a lot of chatter about the possibility that the U.S. may shoot down a North Korean test missile, raising the stakes in our dispute with North Korea.  I have no information on that.  There are positives, in making clear our determination to break the North Korean missile program, but there are also negatives.  North Korea could launch an artillery attack into the South Korean capital of Seoul, which is just south of the North's border with the South.  Then we could be looking at major ground action.

No good options. 

July 11,  2017