It's possible but not easy. It also depends on the type of missile you need to intercept.
If NK launched a nuclear warhead on a long-range Taepodong-II missile this would effectively be an ICBM, the hardest type of missile to intercept. The US GMD system could attempt to shoot it down but they haven't been widely deployed.
If they used a short-range tactical missile such as a Nodong with a nuclear warhead then Patriot batteries or Aegis cruisers would have a good chance of shooting it down.
If a missile was intercepted before the warhead detonated then it wouldn't produce a nuclear explosion, as the warhead's explosion sequence has to be precisely timed. It might break up and scatter pieces of uranium or plutonium around but this is much better than letting it go off.
The warhead itself cannot be intercepted, BUT the delivery system (the missile) can.
Anti -missile defences are now MUCH more reliable and accurate than (say) the Patriot system used in Israel during the first Gulf war.
Assuming the missile was hit, the resulting explosion would NOT be a nuclear detonation although a small amount of contamination would occur from the radioactive core of the weapon.
The US has been developing a missile shield for many years. It's real effectiveness is probably a closely kept secret, but it does exist. Plus, we developed some time ago the Patriot defense system which has been deployed with great success in Israel and elsewhere.
Anything the North Koreans might shoot in our direction can be intercepted and neutralized long before it ever reached its target.
The Patriot missile system is capable of destroying a ballistic missile in flight. The important thing is not to detonate the warhead. An air-burst would create an electrostatic pulse which would destroy electronics in a wide area. If the strike occurred over enemy territory then no problem.
The only way to stop it would be to cause it to detonate in mid-air rather than at its target. This could be accomplished by sending another missile to smash into it with force, however this would take great accuracy to achieve. It would also have to be done over an area where zero or very few people live to try and minimize the potential fatalities. Ultimately, if North Korea do launch nuclear missiles, it will not end perfectly but things can be done to minimize the affects that it could cause.
Yes they could be shot down in the sky but that would be a very bad idea, they should just fire the orbital friendship cannon.
I believe so. Here is a few pictures of different kinds.
They can intercept them
North Korea with with a hail mary and its INTERCEPTED by the US!!! No but they can destroy them.
After seeing all this stuff about north koreas threats against the U.S and South Korea, the question comes to mind, If they were to fire a nuclear warhead would it be be possible to actually intercept the missile? I have no idea how advanced military technology is. And if so would it still end up killing due to fallout or anything like that?
