Duck and cover, Mark!

[Sionnach Glic]

SEOUL, South Korea (June 18) - The United States has positioned more missile defenses around Hawaii as a precaution against a possible North Korean launch across the Pacific, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday. "We do have some concerns if they were to launch a missile to the west in the direction of Hawaii," Gates said.
Gates told reporters at the Pentagon he has sent the military's ground-based mobile missile system to Hawaii, and positioned a radar system nearby. Together the systems theoretically could detect and shoot down a North Korean missile if it came to that.
"Without telegraphing what we will do, I would just say ... we are in a good position, should it become necessary, to protect Americans and American territory," Gates said.
A Japanese newspaper reported Thursday that North Korea might fire its most advanced ballistic missile toward Hawaii around the Fourth of July holiday.
A new missile launch - though not expected to reach U.S. territory - would be a brazen slap in the face of the international community, which punished North Korea with new U.N. sanctions for conducting a second nuclear test on May 25 in defiance of a U.N. ban.
North Korea spurned the U.N. Security Council resolution with threats of war and pledges to expand its nuclear bomb-making program.
The missile now being readied in the North is believed to be a Taepodong-2 with a range of up to 4,000 mile, and would be launched from North Korea's Dongchang-ni site on the northwestern coast sometime around July 4, Independence Day in U.S., the Yomiuri newspaper said.
It cited an analysis by Japan's Defense Ministry and intelligence gathered by U.S. reconnaissance satellites.

[Tsukiyumi]

I think we should do a simultaneous test of our ability to shoot a missile down.

[Aaron]

*meh* The warhead is probably made out of used pinball machine parts anyways.

[Tyyr]

With a 500kg payload this thing isn't lobbing a NK nuke. If the did try to hit Hawaii (and I so very much doubt they could) I'd expect a chemical, biological, or radiological warhead.

[Aaron]

With a 500kg payload this thing isn't lobbing a NK nuke. If the did try to hit Hawaii (and I so very much doubt they could) I'd expect a chemical, biological, or radiological warhead.

More like a sign on a chute saying "we need more food/oil/wine for Dear Leader".

But yeah, likely something on the BC side of the house. A radiological bomb would be a waste of what little they have though.

[Sionnach Glic]

Given that they've trouble reaching Japan with anything, I really don't think the US has to worry at this point.

[Tyyr]

I agree, radiological would be a waste. Chemical is most likely to me. Then again it's a NK missile. The odds of it surviving lift off are marginal and even if it does they'll be happy to have it land in the right hemisphere.

[Tsukiyumi]

I just think it would be some nice practice for our anti-missile crews.

[Tyyr]

It'd be hard to hit if it reduces itself to chaff.

[Tsukiyumi]

It'd be hard to hit if it reduces itself to chaff.

Well, then we can practice shooting down tiny pieces.

[Aaron]

I agree, radiological would be a waste. Chemical is most likely to me. Then again it's a NK missile. The odds of it surviving lift off are marginal and even if it does they'll be happy to have it land in the right hemisphere.

A persistent nerve agent would be ideal and cost the US a tonne of money to clean up but then, like you I'd lay odds of it blowing up on the pad and killing everyone nearby.