Bush says BMD is modest but can still defend U.S. against N.K. missiles

The U.S. ballistic missile defense system (BMD) is "modest" and in the research stage but still would have had a "reasonable chance" of shooting down North Korean missiles should they have headed to the U.S., President George W. Bush said Friday.

BMD capabilities became a focal point in the U.S. when North Korea fired seven ballistic missiles this week, including its indigenous long-range Taepodong-2. In theory, the U.S. west coast would fall within Taepodong's range.

Answering questions at a news conference in Illinois, Bush described the missile system as modest.

The system has so far been successful in half of its interception tests.

"They are new. They are new research," the president said.

"It's hard for me to give you a probability of success."

But he said the system can protect America.

"I think we had a reasonable chance of shooting it down. At least that's what the military commander has told me," he said.

In an interview with CNN's Larry King Thursday, Bush said that while he prefers diplomacy to resolving North Korean issues, a president has "other options."

Asked again in Illinois about the military option against Pyongyang, Bush said it was important for an American president "to exhaust all diplomatic avenues before the use of force."

He challenged a questioner who suggested U.S. policy on North Korea has failed, with the communist nation increasing its nuclear arsenal over the past few years.

"That's an interesting statement: North Korea has 'increased its nuclear arsenal,'" Bush said.

"Can you verify that?" Bush said the denuclearization goal applies not only to North Korea but to South Korea.

"And that's an important goal. That's important for the neighborhood to have embraced that goal," he said.

The six-party talks, involving the two Koreas, the U.S., China, Russia and Japan, aim at ridding the Korean Peninsula of nuclear arms and programs. The main U.S. security concern in the region is that nuclear-capable North Korea would ignite an arms race, to include Japan.

Washington, July 7 (Yonhap News)