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US General '100% Confident' Against North Korean Missiles

Jeff Seldin

   The United States has long seen North Korea's pursuit of nuclear
   weapons as a major national security threat.But the missiles Pyongyang
   would use to deliver a nuclear bomb appear to be a different matter.

   A top U.S. general Friday dismissed concerns North Korea's rapidly
   developing missile program is capable, for now, of producing anything
   that could get by U.S. defenses.

   "I have 100% confidence," General John Hyten, vice chairman of the
   Joint Chiefs of Staff, told an audience in Washington."I don't say 100%
   confidence often. I have 100% confidence in those capabilities against
   North Korea."

   'Gift' wasn't given

   U.S. military and intelligence officials have been keeping an
   especially close eye on Pyongyang since late last year, when leader Kim
   Jong Un threatened to give Washington a "Christmas gift" it might not
   like.

   At the time, U.S. officials expected some sort of weapons test or a
   test of one of the country's new long-range ballistic missiles. Only no
   such test ever materialized. And with negotiations between Washington
   and Pyongyang seemingly stalled, there are growing concerns a peaceful,
   diplomatic solution may be drifting out of reach.

   Earlier this week, during a news conference at the Pentagon with
   Japanese Defense Minister TaroKono, U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper
   told reporters the next move was "in Kim JongUn'shands."

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