Mark Berkowitz, U.S. assistant secretary of defense for space policy, said on April 27 local time that North Korea’s nuclear and missile capabilities pose a “direct and growing threat” to the U.S. mainland and its allies.
In written testimony submitted to a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, Berkowitz said, “North Korea continues to expand its nuclear, missile and air capabilities. Its theater missiles threaten the territories of the United States, South Korea and Japan, and its intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) are capable of striking the U.S. mainland.”
He identified China as a “pacing competitor” and ranked the level of threat from countries in the following order: China, Russia, North Korea and Iran.
Regarding China, he said it is “rapidly expanding its nuclear and missile forces and developing advanced systems, including new ICBMs and hypersonic glide vehicles capable of carrying both nuclear and conventional warheads.” On Russia, he noted that its “vast and diverse nuclear arsenal remains a core strategic threat.”
The U.S. government is pursuing the next-generation homeland defense system known as “Golden Dome for America” under the direction of President Donald Trump to address these threats. The concept involves integrating space- and ground-based sensors and intercept systems into a multilayered architecture supported by an artificial intelligence-based command and control system to counter complex threats, including ballistic, hypersonic and cruise missiles.
Berkowitz said, “Golden Dome will protect the U.S. mainland’s population, critical infrastructure and retaliatory strike capabilities,” adding that while the cost is substantial, it is an essential investment to safeguard lives and national territory.
According to local media reports, Gen. Michael Guetlein of the U.S. Space Force, who oversees the project, said about $22.9 billion has been allocated so far, with total costs estimated to reach about $185 billion by the planned completion in 2035.
However, the Congressional Budget Office estimated in May last year that the cost could range from $161 billion to $542 billion, suggesting continued debate over the final price.
Berkowitz also said that in the Indo-Pacific region, “denial defense” along the so-called First Island Chain linking Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines in the western Pacific is essential, and highlighted the need to operate forward-deployed, multilayered integrated air and missile defense systems consisting of Aegis destroyers, the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system (THAAD) and Patriot missile batteries.
He also cited additional THAAD deployments, increased production of Patriot PAC-3 interceptors and continued development of an integrated air and missile defense system for Guam as key investment priorities.