The North Korean threat remains, and America must be ready

OPINION:

While the world’s eyes are focused on Israel and Ukraine and the United States considers its role in assisting our allies, we cannot lose sight of the entirety of the threat landscape that the United States faces. Specifically, our government must not be so distracted that it fails to prepare for the threat North Korea poses as it continues to ramp up its weapons development — a process that has included more than 100 missile launches since the start of 2022.

Just last month, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un launched two new ballistic missiles, and national security adviser Jake Sullivan indicated that the U.S. and its allies in the region expect North Korea to increase weapons demonstrations and threats in 2024, possibly including the country’s seventh nuclear test.

The persistent missile tests conducted by Pyongyang, coupled with the deranged intentions of the country’s dictator, pose a direct threat not only to the stability of the Korean Peninsula but also to global security and the U.S. homeland. As the North Korean regime continues to enhance its missile technology against the backdrop of broader global instability, the imperative for a robust homeland missile defense system has never been more pressing.

Mr. Kim has demonstrated time and again an obsession with missile capability and consistently disregards international norms with his antics and frequent test launches. These provocations can no longer be brushed aside as posturing by the murderous regime, given that a nuclear-armed North Korea capable of striking targets far beyond its borders is a more than worrisome reality.

Recent tests by the North Koreans have shown advancements in both intermediate-range and intercontinental ballistic missiles, which raises the alarm for nations within striking distance. That includes the United States, its territories, and military installations across the region.

So, if we understand Mr. Kim’s focus on ballistic missiles and recognize the regime’s rapid technological advancements, that should lead us to the conclusion that we must embolden and expand our homeland missile defense systems.

While the United States has invested in homeland missile defenses and the Missile Defense Agency plays a pivotal role as the threats evolve, so must our response planning. That means signaling a clear line that this will be a priority for the U.S. government, increasing competition among private companies that support the government’s efforts, and consistently investing resources to ensure that we encourage research, development and deployment of the most advanced missile defense technologies available.

This effort should include continuing to fully fund Ground-Based Midcourse Defense System modernizations and the development and deployment of a much more capable Next Generation Interceptor, a top priority for the Missile Defense Agency. For the latter in particular, competition among large defense firms will help ensure the U.S. military receives the most effective interceptor and does so ahead of schedule. 

Furthermore, fostering international collaboration with like-minded allies on missile defense is crucial. The threat posed by North Korean ballistic missiles is not confined to the region; it has far-reaching implications for global security. Allied nations must come together to share intelligence, technologies and best practices in developing and deploying missile defense systems.

A united front will enhance the overall effectiveness of these defenses and send a clear message that the international community is resolute in its commitment to pushing back against the North Korean regime.

Some critics argue that investing in missile defense is an expensive endeavor with uncertain returns. But the potential costs of inaction far outweigh the financial commitments required for developing and maintaining a robust missile defense shield. The potential devastation wrought by a successful ballistic missile strike, especially one armed with a nuclear warhead, is not something we can, in good conscience, ignore or pinch pennies on.

As the United States weighs its role in the world, continuing to support action in multiple theaters and reorienting its national security against nation-state threats, our nation’s leaders must remember that North Korea is capitalizing on the distraction of other countries’ conflicts to advance their nuclear ambitions. We must be prepared.

• Arnold Punaro is a retired Marine Corps major general who served as director of the Marine Corps Reserve, deputy commanding general, Marine Corps Combat Development Command (Mobilization), and for three years as commanding general of the 4th Marine Division.