Following the successful North Korean ICBM test earlier in the week, the USA has announced its intention to carry out a new test of their THAAD missile defense system, an attempt to shoot down an IRBM simulating an attack around the THAADs in Alaska.
In the wake of the heightened tensions, the US has been conducting missile defense tests.
The THAAD is based at the Pacific Spaceport Complex Alaska in Kodiak, Alaska.
Created to shoot down short, medium and intermediate ballistic missiles, each THAAD system is comprised of five major components.
According to other reports, the MDA claims that THAAD has a flawless track record during its past 13 flight tests since 2006.
On July 4, North Korea claimed that it successfully test-fired its first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on the orders of leader Kim Jong-un. It could reportedly "detect, track, and engage a target with a THAAD interceptor".
It is not clear when, exactly, the test will be conducted.
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This handout photo taken on July 5, 2017 shows US M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System firing an MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile into the East Sea from an undisclosed location on South Korea. Both China and Russian Federation have objected to the US deployment of THAAD systems in South Korea, and new South Korean President Moon Jae-in temporarily halted a related rollout in June. In addition to the clear threat from North Korea, the tests point to waning USA patience with China, which has supported North Korea to maintain regional stability and counterbalance Western influence.
No North Korea statements have announced work on countermeasures, according to Schmerler.
THAAD is not created to stop an ICBM - that job is left primarily to the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) interceptor system. But advocates note that the technology has improved dramatically in recent years.
"Judging from this series of tests, North Korea has more than one trump card up its sleeve", Khrolenko noted.
"Expanding the existing system which continues to have reliability concerns, and technical concerns, is not a winning strategy to stay ahead of the North Korea threat", said Reif.
USA intelligence agencies said the missile was most likely a new ICBM with an estimated range of 5,500 kilometers (3,400 miles), capable of hitting Alaska.
Democratic Representatives John Conyers and Sheila Jackson Lee, along with Republican Walter Jones, filed an amendment to the annual National Defence Authorization Act saying that nothing in the bill should be construed as authorizing the use of force against North Korea.
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