Congressman Mike Turner, Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, released the following statement as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) successfully launched a long-range missile:
“This successful missile launch by North Korea demonstrates its commitment to developing weapons of mass destruction to threaten the United States and its allies. More concerning is that the Kim regime illegally continues to develop nuclear weapons. Together, these behaviors should serve as a warning to both the Administration, and the international community, that a renewed effort must be undertaken to halt these destabilizing ambitions.
“Moreover, now is not the time to continue cutting the only missile defense program that protects the American homeland--the ground-based midcourse defense system--as the Obama administration has each year it has been in office. It would be the height of irresponsibility to simply ignore the stated goals of the North Korean regime, and leave the American people and our allies open to attack.”