U.S. Officials: North Korea Could Attack Without Warning

U.S. officials say that the government is becoming more and more worried that they will not have adequate time to prepare for a potential nuclear attack from North Korea on the U.S. or its allies, due to recent advances in North Korea’s weapons program.

One U.S. official connected to intelligence on the matter told CNN that North Korea is no longer a “theoretical” threat but is now a “practical” one, as testing of nuclear weapons as well as medium- and long-range missiles has grown more aggressive and more open in recent times.

U.S. officials believe the North Korea is no longer taking measures to ensure that any potential testing failures are concealed from international eyes, which enables them to repeatedly and freely test all weapons needed for an attack, though they have reportedly erected a canopy to block U.S. satellite views.

“When you have this many tests, you are eventually going to get it right,” said retired Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, a CNN military analyst. “That’s what concerns me. As soon as they have one test that they could classify as an extreme success, then we are talking a whole different ballgame (in) their potential to threaten other sovereign nations in their area but also potentially parts of the United States.”

The U.S. is now operating under the understanding that North Korea has miniaturized their warheads and is ready for a missile attack, officials explained.

Many of the weapons Pyongyang have been testing, such as difficult to track mobile missiles, submarine launched missiles and intercontinental missiles, take away the possibility of an early warning, officials said.

One recent test launched an intermediate-range missile within 150 miles of Japan in a matter of seconds.

Other countries have taken notice of Pyongyang’s expanding weapons program, too. South Korea has deployed a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, which South Korean President Park Geun-hye said in an August 15 televised address was an act of “self-defense” in response to their northern neighbor’s nuclear weapons, according to Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Sources: CNN, Australian Broadcasting Corporation / Photo Credit: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons