Could North Korea Launch a 'Pearl Harbor' Attack on Hawaii?

[DemolitionMan]

Dan Goure

The Trump Administration is undertaking a Ballistic Missile Defense Review intended to ensure that our current and planned capabilities are best able to meet the evolving ballistic missile threat.  This review needs to seriously consider recommending an accelerated program to provide a dedicated missile defense capability for Hawaii.

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) efforts to develop long-range ballistic missiles and nuclear warheads are accelerating.  Pyongyang already has or will soon possess ballistic missiles capable of threatening virtually any target in the Western Pacific region. As if that were not enough to cause U.S. defense planners sleepless nights, the latest Worldwide Threat Assessment by the Director of National Intelligence believes that 2017 will be the year that North Korea tests an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), a weapon with sufficient range to deliver a nuclear weapon to Hawaii, Alaska and the continental U.S.
http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/could-north-korea-launch-pearl-harbor-attack-hawaii-21850

[DB]

It could if NK wants to disappear in a flash of light.

[DemolitionMan]

It could if NK wants to disappear in a flash of light.

I would say from launch detection to impact it would be about 10-20 minutes.

[DB]

I would say from launch detection to impact it would be about 10-20 minutes.

Yes, but you wouldn't really know what they launched until it completes its flight/detonates. And then whatever it was is a done deal.

[DemolitionMan]

Yes, but you wouldn't really know what they launched until it completes its flight/detonates. And then whatever it was is a done deal.

DSP satellites can pick up an immediate launch and relay that information to NORAD and Peterson AFB. That is why they are up there. In 1991, we were able to track Saddam Hussein missiles and give that information to the Israelis.

http://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104611/defense-support-program-satellites/

[DB]

DSP satellites can pick up an immediate launch and relay that information to NORAD and Peterson AFB. That is why they are up there. In 1991, we were able to track Saddam Hussein missiles and give that information to the Israelis.

http://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104611/defense-support-program-satellites/

I'm sorry I wasn't very clear. My point was that we don't know what the payload on the rocket is until it is released/gets to its destination. So the rocket might be harmless or a city killer. No way to know until its done its deed.

[skeeter]

I'm sorry I wasn't very clear. My point was that we don't know what the payload on the rocket is until it is released/gets to its destination. So the rocket might be harmless or a city killer. No way to know until its done its deed.

Would it matter? Were any ICBM with a trajectory that appears to threaten a US strategic or populated target launched the worst case would have to be assumed.

[DB]

Would it matter? Were any ICBM with a trajectory that appears to threaten a US strategic or populated target launched the worst case would have to be assumed.

Well the results matter but I agree, you have to assume the worst on any launch treating it like a city killer.

[DemolitionMan]

I'm sorry I wasn't very clear. My point was that we don't know what the payload on the rocket is until it is released/gets to its destination. So the rocket might be harmless or a city killer. No way to know until its done its deed.

Nuclear armed missiles have only been tested a handful of times.The test involved a nuclear-tipped missile fired from a US submarine toward Christmas Island and detonated over the Pacific Ocean. in the 1960s.We dared the Chinese in 1966 (when they tested a nuclear missile) and they did it. Now we're daring the North Koreans

[Cyber Liberty]

Nuclear armed missiles have only been tested a handful of times.The test involved a nuclear-tipped missile fired from a US submarine toward Christmas Island and detonated over the Pacific Ocean. in the 1960s.We dared the Chinese in 1966 (when they tested a nuclear missile) and they did it. Now we're daring the North Koreans

Once you've lit off a missile/warhead combo, there's not much point in doing it again and again.  There have been a crapton of missile tests since those early days, there was no point in slapping warheads on them.  The whole ticket is to get that first one, and that's what rocket kid is trying to do, he says.

[DemolitionMan]

Once you've lit off a missile/warhead combo, there's not much point in doing it again and again.  There have been a crapton of missile tests since those early days, there was no point in slapping warheads on them.  The whole ticket is to get that first one, and that's what rocket kid is trying to do, he says.

With bombers you can recall them to their failsafe points, with the proper codes. You cannot recall a missile.Once you are committed, you are committed. This is why we have the "two man(women) rule".It takes two people to agree to launch a missile wing that has a capability of wiping out twenty million people. In communist countries, they do not have that rule. The missileers can be overriden by a "political" officer and its completely centralized.I have no doubts that Kim is the shotcaller on this and his officers are just following his directions.

[Frank Cannon]

Could North Korea Launch a 'Pearl Harbor' Attack on Hawaii?

If that happened it would give Japanese tourists another place to clog up taking pictures.

[DemolitionMan]

Could North Korea Launch a 'Pearl Harbor' Attack on Hawaii?

If that happened it would give Japanese tourists another place to clog up taking pictures.

LOL. Those pictures might be overexposed.

[rangerrebew]

There is a large military presence in Hawaii which might have something to say about the missile reaching it's destination.  I would be really surprised if there weren't a picket line of Navy ships between NK/Guam and Guam/Hawaii that might also have some say in the matter.

[DemolitionMan]

There is a large military presence in Hawaii which might have something to say about the missile reaching it's destination.  I would be really surprised if there weren't a picket line of Navy ships between NK/Guam and Guam/Hawaii that might also have some say in the matter.

Actually there are many X-Band radar stations in between.

[driftdiver]

Actually there are many X-Band radar stations in between.

Any such missile from NK would have to go into low earth orbit at the very least.   Probably the only time they could stop it would be on the launch or on the descent.

[Cyber Liberty]

Could North Korea Launch a 'Pearl Harbor' Attack on Hawaii?

If that happened it would give Japanese tourists another place to clog up taking pictures.

When I was a kid we were visiting Grand Canyon when a bus pulled up and disgorged its cargo of Japanese armed with at least three cameras each, clicking away.  One fellow walked up to my father and said, "It's quite beautiful, but not quite as beautiful as Mount Fuji.  Bet you haven't seen that." 

My father just fixed him in a stare and said, "As a matter of fact, I have.  In 1945."  Boy, my father hated Nips.

[Cyber Liberty]

Any such missile from NK would have to go into low earth orbit at the very least.   Probably the only time they could stop it would be on the launch or on the descent.

And descent would be pretty tough to hit, considering how fast the target would be.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Yes, but you wouldn't really know what they launched until it completes its flight/detonates. And then whatever it was is a done deal.

If a missile was launched from NK with a projected trajectory to Hawaii, we do not wait until it hits to see what it contained.

Due to NK's stated declaration of a nuclear attack on the US, it must be immediately assumed it is nuclear and we have immediate reprisal.

It is as simple as that.  Before the missile lands, NK has already guaranteed its extinction.

[GtHawk]

LOL. Those pictures might be overexposed.

Can you overexpose a memory card?

[GtHawk]

And descent would be pretty tough to hit, considering how fast the target would be.

Why not, it's all woulda coulda shoulda anyway.

[Frank Cannon]

When I was a kid we were visiting Grand Canyon when a bus pulled up and disgorged its cargo of Japanese armed with at least three cameras each, clicking away.  One fellow walked up to my father and said, "It's quite beautiful, but not quite as beautiful as Mount Fuji.  Bet you haven't seen that." 

My father just fixed him in a stare and said, "As a matter of fact, I have.  In 1945."  Boy, my father hated Nips.

LOL. I like your old mans style.

[DemolitionMan]

Can you overexpose a memory card?

The EMP would destroy the card

[DB]

The EMP would destroy the card

The the burst of radioactive radiation alone would wipe the card...

[DemolitionMan]

The the burst of radioactive radiation alone would wipe the card...

I meant to say wipe out. Thanks for correcting. But I did some checking they do EMP proof thumbdrives