Obama: U.S. 'Fully Prepared' for Any N. Korea Launch

[Hissyspit]

Source: AFP

US 'fully prepared' for any NKorea launch: Obama

Agence France Presse

The United States is "fully prepared for any contingencies" regarding a potential missile launch toward US territory by North Korea, President Barack Obama said in an interview to be aired Monday. "This administration -- and our military -- is fully prepared for any contingencies," Obama told CBS when asked about the possibility that North Korea could fire a missile toward Hawaii in the coming weeks.

Asked if that meant Washington was "warning of a military response," Obama answered: "No. It's just we are prepared for any contingencies. "I don't want to speculate on hypotheticals. But I do want to give assurances to the American people that the T's are crossed and the I's are dotted in terms of what might happen," he added, according to excerpts released Sunday.

The US military has beefed up its Hawaii defenses over fears Pyongyang may launch a missile at the Pacific island chain, as it tracked a North Korean ship possibly carrying banned cargo, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday. "I would just say I think we are in a good position should it become necessary to protect American territory," the Pentagon chief said.

- snip -

"More broadly, I think the international community has spoken," Obama said, noting that the UN Security Council has agreed to tighter cargo inspections, a stricter arms embargo and new targeted financial curbs to choke off revenue for the North's nuclear and missile sectors.

Read more: http://www.alternet.org/rss/3/63362/us_%27fully_prepared%27_for_any_nkorea_launch%3A_obama/

[madrchsod]

1. a north korean missle has a better chance of hitting hawaii

than the senate passing a single payer or medicare health plan.