WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama said the United States is “prepared for any contingencies” involving North Korea — including the regime’s reported threat to launch a long-range missile toward Hawaii.
Japanese media have reported the North Koreans appear to be preparing for a long-range test near July 4. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has ordered additional protections for Hawaii.
“This administration and our military is fully prepared for any contingencies,” Obama said Friday during an interview with CBS News’ Harry Smith, to be broadcast today on “The Early Show.” “I don’t want to speculate on hypotheticals. But I 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.”
Today, North Korea’s main newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, said it is “nonsense” to say the country was threatening the U.S. The paper also warned that Pyongyang is prepared to strike back if attacked.
“As long as our country has become a proud nuclear power, the U.S. should take a correct look at whom it is dealing with,” the paper said.
The South Korean news network YTN reported Sunday that a U.S. Navy destroyer was tailing a North Korean ship, the Kang Nam, suspected of carrying illicit weapons toward Myanmar.
A senior U.S. military official said Friday that the USS John S. McCain, was relatively close to the North Korean vessel but had no orders to intercept it. The guided missile destroyer is named after the grandfather and father of Arizona Sen. John McCain. Both were admirals.
Sen. McCain said Sunday that the U.S. should board the Kang Nam even without North Korean permission if hard evidence shows it is carrying missiles.
“I think we should board it. It’s going to contribute to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to rogue nations that pose a direct threat to the United States,” McCain said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
