Adm. Samuel Locklear, commander of US Pacific Command, told the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday: “We’ve got the capability in place to be able to monitor and protect the homeland … as well as our allies.” He added that the US would not automatically intercept any missile launched by North Korea, but would intercept missiles aimed at or expected to land in the US or its allies. “We’re ready,” he said. According to the admiral, North Korea is believed to have moved a missile to its east coast with a range of about 3,500 miles (5.600 kilometers), which he said would not put the mainland or Hawaii at risk. Observers noted that Locklear omitted to refer to a possible North Korean attack on a US base or naval ship, when this question was put to him by Sen. John McCain.