US Pacific Command, Adm. Harry Harris said on Wednesday that projections of North Korea’s weapons capabilities in a few years mean the United States must bolster its missile defences, particularly on Hawaii. 

Harris also suggests examining the feasibility of deploying ground-based interceptors in Hawaii as well as a defensive radar system. He added that the US must continue to improve the capabilities of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in Guam, as well as the ballistic missile defence ships stationed around Japan. 

A $1 billion radar system will be operational in Hawaii by 2023.