How do US missile defense systems work against DPRK?

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One of the reasons that the United States and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) have been exchanging heated rhetoric was the installation of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in South Korea.

But THAAD is not the only missile defense system Uncle Sam has in the Asia-Pacific. The other two are the Aegis and the Patriot systems.

THAAD is designed to shoot down short-and medium-range ballistic missiles in the latter stage of their flights. It also boasts a powerful radar system which could provide the first warning of any missile fired from the DPRK.

Once THAAD detects a missile launch, its battery will send radar tracking data to US Navy warships equipped with the Aegis missile defense system, sailing between South Korea and Japan. Aegis will then fire interceptors at the missiles in mid-flight.

If Aegis fails, data from its own radar and THAAD's will be sent to Patriot missile batteries which have already been tested in the Gulf War in 1991 and the Iraq War in 2003.

The wartime operational control is in the hands of the US, though the South Korean government has been working to take it back.