U.S. intelligence officials are puzzled as to why North Korea hasn’t tested any nuclear-capable ballistic missiles in the last two months.
One reason cited by the intelligence community is that parts of the Punggye-ri nuclear test site may have been damaged by seismic activity.
Officials caution that tests may resume at any time, and if the tests moved above ground level it could appear like a potential attack. That would especially be the case if the tests were to involve live warheads.
If a test were to be conducted and subsequently construed as an attack, the U.S. would only have minutes to mount a counterattack, either by attacking the missile on the launchpad or shoot it while in its initial boost phase.
A senior official has said that the U.S. does not have a specific policy to allow for a pre-emptive strike.
Under the current circumstances, such a strike would undoubtedly be interpreted by North Korea as a direct and unprovoked attack by the United States, untethering any obligations of restraint that Kim Jong Un may have to the Chinese government.
The U.S. President’s input will not be required in the event of a “self defense” move by the United States should North Korea launch its missile.
However, he has the sole authority to launch a pre-emptive strike, something that has led Congress to revive the Republican-led Senate Foreign Relations Committee after more than 40 years.
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