The Latest: US cites ‘complete obliteration of mock warhead

WASHINGTON – The Latest on the U.S. military test involving an interceptor and a mock warhead (all times local):

12:20 p.m.

A U.S. interceptor has scored a direct hit and appears to have resulted in the “complete obliteration” of a mock warhead over the Pacific Ocean.

That’s the word from the Pentagon — which says the realistic test mirrored the missile threat from North Korea and Iran.

Jim Syring is the vice-admiral who directs the Defence Department’s Missile Defence Agency. He tells reporters that the test included decoys and replicated a very specific scenario in the Pacific.

Tuesday’s test was a critical milestone for a program that has been hampered by setbacks over the years, he said.

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3:30 a.m.

The Pentagon’s oft-criticized missile defence program has scored a triumph.

It’s destroyed a mock warhead over the Pacific Ocean with an interceptor seen as vital to protecting U.S. territory from a possible North Korean attack.

Jim Syring is the vice-admiral who directs the Pentagon agency in charge of developing the missile defence system.

He says Tuesday’s test result has proved to be “an incredible accomplishment” and a milestone for a program hampered by setbacks over the years.

The $244 million test didn’t confirm that under wartime conditions the U.S. could intercept an intercontinental-range missile fired by North Korea.