Navy missile interceptor ships form first line of defense
In the operations center on board the USS Stethem, sailors keep watch on a dizzying array of maps, graphics, sensors and radar data - all focused on North Korea.
The Stethem, a destroyer, is one of two warships in the western Pacific that are responsible for detecting, tracking and, if necessary, shooting down a ballistic missile launched by Pyongyang. And they represent the first line of defense for U.S. allies and territories in a region that has become increasingly nervous as North Korea has ratcheted up its rhetoric and threats in recent months. (more…)
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