N. Korea is why we need better defense

With the nuclear threat from North Korea growing, Congress must fully fund America’s missile defenses — our only true protection against this erratic, rogue regime (“Yes, North Korea is a nuclear threat,” Commentary, May 19). So far this year, North Korea has been aggressively testing its missiles, conducting a half dozen tests and continues threatening the United States with a “preemptive nuclear strike.”

Congress must respond by bolstering our Ground-based Midcourse Defense, or GMD, which protects our homeland defense against this threat. GMD’s network of satellites and radars can detect enemy missile launches and use interceptors based in California and Alaska to shoot down an incoming attack.

The Ground-based Midcourse Defense has proven successful in nine test intercepts but needs more frequent and rigorous testing, more interceptors at the current GMD bases, a modernized “kill vehicle” and potentially a new site on America’s East Coast to protect against other rogue states.

Each year, the Defense Department spends less than half of one percent of its budget — less than the government spends on office supplies — on this vital insurance policy that could save an American city if North Korea follows through on its threats.

But with the threat growing from North Korea, Congress must do more than just fund existing plans for our national defense. It should look at plans like the one Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Ark., recently introduced to strengthen and expand GMD to ensure we will be safe in the future.

For more information, go to www.sullivan.senate.gov/ newsroom/press-releases/senators-introduce-bill-to-bolster-homeland-missile-defense

Anthony T. Hawkins is the national coordinator of the Congressional Black Caucus Veterans Braintrust. He works in Washington, D.C.