Testing North Korea's ballistic missiles last month showed a new, more dangerous opportunities in the missile program of North Korea, but the Pentagon says that the US and its Asian allies are ready to combat the threat.

When North Korea launched a rocket on February 12, the U.S. Navy had two destroyers in the sea of Japan with the ability to shoot it down, said the representative of the Ministry of defense. The guided missile destroyers USS Stethem and USS McCampbell, equipped with the Aegis missile defense system, which is able to track 100 rockets simultaneously.

"We worked very quickly with our Japanese and South Korean allies to ensure that the missile is not a threat to them too. As you know, we have the ability to be able to react quickly to intercept missiles from North Korea, if they threaten us or our allies, " - said the press Secretary, US Navy captain Jeff Davis.

"The missile was launched at 89 degrees, and if it was running at normal angle, which is 45 degrees, she could fly more than 2000 kilometers (1242 miles). This launch indicates that the missile technology North Korea is constantly making progress,".

American officials said that the missile Pukguksong-2 was sent to solid rocket fuel, thus more difficult to detect an imminent launch, since it requires less time fuelling on the launch pad.

But the Aegis system, which is in the arsenals of the United States, Japan and South Korea, allows the early detection of missile threats and provides the ability to track missiles for interception. Aegis can also work with other missile defense systems such as THAAD, which should be deployed in South Korea this year, or ABOUT Patriot.
sections: Politics, World News, Accidents