U.S. Commander Confirms N. Korea’s Threat to Hawai’i

Admiral Harry Harris, the commander of the U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM), confirmed the threat of North Korea to Hawaiʻi during a House Armed Services Committee hearing today, and detailed potential vulnerabilities that exist within current U.S. missile defense capabilities that could put Hawaiʻi at risk, stated a press release from Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s office. 

Video of Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s questions to Admiral Harris below.

Asked by Rep. Gabbard about the threat of North Korea to Hawaiʻi specifically, Admiral Harris stated, “Kim Jong-un is clearly in a position to threaten Hawai’i today, in my opinion… Our ballistic missile architecture is sufficient to protect Hawaiʻi today, but it can be overwhelmed. If Kim Jong-un or someone else launched ballistic missiles—ICBMs—against the United States, we would have to make the decision on which ones to take out or not.”

Following the hearing, Rep. Gabbard said, “Hawaiʻi is home to the largest concentration of U.S. military strategic assets for well over 3,000 miles, making it a prime target for North Korea’s aggression. As I travelled across Hawai’i during my recent statewide town hall tour, I heard from my constituents on every island, their concern about the threat posed by North Korea’s increased nuclear and ballistic missile activity and capabilities that place Hawaiʻi squarely within North Korea’s crosshairs.

“It is the people of Hawaiʻi and our way of life that are at risk if North Korea’s missiles turn towards our shores,” Rep. Gabbard continued. “Admiral Harris’ testimony today affirmed the seriousness of this threat, and highlighted the need to strengthen our current missile defense infrastructure to ensure the defense of Hawai’i. I’m continuing this urgent push to strengthen the protection of Hawaiʻi against the threat that exists today, and the complex threat we know will emerge in the future. I urge my colleagues to take this threat seriously and provide the resources and tools necessary to defend Hawaiʻi against this threat.”

Missile defense has been one of Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s top priorities throughout her time in Congress. Last year, she passed two amendments in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)—one to provide funding to begin the process of bringing an MRDR to Hawaiʻi, and the other to require the Missile Defense Agency to brief Congress on their short-term plan to enhance missile defense capabilities in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific—and also questioned then SECDEF Carter and Chairman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff about the need to increase Hawaiʻi’s missile defense.

Rep. Gabbard has had ongoing conversations and meetings with the Missile Defense Agency director, Vice Admiral James Syring, to discuss possible options for the defense of Hawaiʻi, to deal with short-term and long-term needs. This includes quickly deployable options that are available to further strengthen the existing defensive assets within the state.