Sen. McCain calls on administration to shoot down any North Korean missile

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) wants the U.S. military to shoot
down any North Korean missile, putting him at odds with the top U.S. commander
in the Pacific.

McCain issued a statement Monday saying that the United States
should “treat any North Korean missile launch as a threat to our national
security and our allies, and that we should shoot it down once it leaves North
Korean airspace.”

{mosads}North Korea has been threatening to test launch a missile
for more than a week as it has threatened South Korea and the United States
with a nuclear attack.

McCain’s statement followed his questioning last week of
Adm. Samuel Locklear, chief of the U.S. Pacific Command.

McCain asked Locklear whether the U.S. military was capable
of shooting down a missile from North Korea, and Locklear said it was.

Then McCain asked if Locklear would recommend that any
missile coming from North Korea should be shot down.

Locklear said he would not, unless he knew where the target
was.

McCain did not challenge Locklear on his statement at the hearing,
or suggest to him that missiles being shot into the Pacific Ocean should be
shot down in addition to those that were headed toward U.S. or its allies’
territory.

His statement Monday, however, said no distinction should be
made.

“North Korea’s leaders should have no doubt that the United
States of America has both the capability and the will to eliminate the threats
they seek to pose to international peace and stability,” McCain said.

The North Koreans did not test-fire a missile on Monday, the
birthday anniversary of Kim Il Sung, the grandfather of current North Korean leader Kim
Jong Un, suggesting tensions could be easing.

The White House downplayed the significance of not firing a
missile tied to the anniversary celebration.

“We certainly would not be surprised if North Korea were to
take that action,” White House press secretary Jay Carney said of a missile
launch Monday. “It would be in keeping with past behavior.”