Threat to U.S.

As you may have heard, North Korea says it can reach the continental U.S. now with a missile. There are two types of missiles that worry me. First, of course, is nuclear. The second is an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) burst. I do not know how well prepared the U.S. is for this kind of missile. As a satellite comm person, I am well aware of what an EMP burst could do. As you may have seen on tv, if there is an EMP burst, all electronics in that area will stop working. Your car will die, your cell phone will go dead, the electricity in your house will go off; in other words, nothing will work. So, imagine if it were a missile with a huge burst. There would be no communication with anyone. All types of systems will go down. All forms of government will stop working.  There would be very few ways of getting the word out to people about anything. Grocery stores will have no food, as trucks cannot deliver, frozen food will spoil, and ice can't be made. Fridges won't cool, Everything would be in chaos.
The military does have some systems that are designed to withstand an EMP burst. But those systems are usually protected for a reason. Because they are vital. EMP shielding can't be put everywhere, as it is very expensive, and must meet exact criteria to be effective.
What is the answer? Some systems have been developed that do not need electronics or electricity to work, but they are basic systems supplying a backup to the real thing. So how do we protect our critical systems like basic electricity to your house, or how do we keep your car running, or traffic lights working? The answer is; you can't. An EMP burst is designed to do exactly that; to knock out all your communication systems and cause chaos in the public. And it would. That is why I am worried about such a missile. The only way to stop this from happening is to detect the missile at launch, and have a means to destroy it in air. There are such systems, but you can't possibly cover the entire U.S. with them. So common sense says that you have to put these knock-down systems where they are needed the most. Can you restore power after an EMP burst; sure! After you replace all the parts that have been fried (not easy), replace your cars electronics, replace transformers all over; basically rebuilding. But if there is one good thing in all this, it is that, if there is any country in the world that has the ability to recover from something like that, it is the United States and it's people! Sacrifices would have to be made, people would lose a lot of money, newer and quicker systems would suddenly develop. But, as much as I see the U.S. right now having all these internal problems, I do know one thing. We in the military already know this as a fact. When it is really needed badly, the PEOPLE of the United States will take quick and decisive action, party lines will be forgotten for a while, and all will band together, for the good of the entire nation! I know this would happen! That is a part of America that hasn't changed, thank God!
When your military commanders tell you, the public, they need a big budget, it isn't so they can waste it, although I know quite a bit IS wasted on stupid contracts that shouldn't exist. But mostly it is for the protection of the people, and we must stay advanced in all areas.  If we don't, countries will pass us up, and that puts us all in danger. We are THE ONLY country in the history of the world that has a habit of giving back conquered countries. When we beat Germany, we gave it back to the Germans; when we beat Japan, we gave it back to the Japanese; the same for Okinawa, Italy, and many other countries. Any other country would have kept it for themselves (and, in many cases, we should have).
Back to the threat from North Korea; I know, as a trained military person, that there are numerous plans already in place to protect us, and more being developed by people who know their jobs. They are watching them 24 hours a day. They are watching troop movements, have already pinpointed military assets, and targeted what needs to be taken out first. This is normal military strategy. I know that they have shared some of this intel with our allies, who also have their strategies and targets in place. If we WANTED to destroy North Korea, it would happen quickly. But there are so many innocent lives there, however misguided they may be. Everyone shouts diplomacy and political solutions. But, if they are even halfway rational people, they should already know that no amount of diplomacy will work on some people. A quick look at ANY countries history will tell you that. That is why there must be a two-edged sword; diplomacy on one side, with the force of military might to back it up on the other side. Whether you like it or not, or totally agree or disagree, it is the only proven way to "make your point". Sometimes words mean absolutely nothing to other countries if you don't have the will and the force to back it up. Some people, unfortunately, only understand force. If a nerdy, skinny guy with glasses is trying to talk to you about his point of view, you may not listen at all; but if that nerdy guy has a baseball bat in his hands when he's talking, you just might pay attention!