South Korea backtracks, launch no longer ‘imminent’

South Korea says North Korea may be preparing for a fourth nuclear test, with stepped up activity detected at its main test site. The situation is very similar to the situation seen ahead of the third nuclear test, carried out in February. How is the US responding? President Obama’s former director for weapons of mass destruction Gary Samore says the key is “proportional retaliation without triggering a general conflict.” The new “counter provocation” plan involves calculating the trajectory of a missile within seconds and shooting it down if it is headed for South Korea, Japan or Guam, an American territory. But they plan to do nothing if it is headed toward open water, even if it goes over Japan. Officials say President Obama ruled out striking the missiles on their launchers — when they are easiest to destroy — unless there is evidence they have nuclear warheads. Less than 24 hours later, though, South Korea takes it back and says what it saw were “routine activities.”

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