SJR 4-NATIONAL BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM SENATOR TIM KELLY, sponsor of SJR 4, informed committee members that Secretary of Defense William Cohen announced that the United States will proceed with the deployment of a national ballistic missile defense system and confirmed that Alaska and North Dakota are under active consideration as potential sites. SJR 4 states the reasons why that system should be deployed in Alaska, primarily because its strategic location makes it the only site in which all 50 states can be defended. The North Dakota base cannot defend Alaska and Hawaii. Alaskans have always supported a strong national defense system. Brigadier General Willy Nance, Program Manager for the National Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, is making a special trip to Juneau on February 22 to brief the Legislature on the details of the program. SENATOR KELLY urged bipartisan support of SJR 4 so that the resolution can be presented to Brigadier General Nance upon his arrival. He requested the committee amend SJR 4 to include Secretary of Defense William Cohen as a recipient of the resolution. VICE-CHAIR GREEN noted that SJR 4 does not make any reference to the fact that North Dakota's location does not have Alaska's strategic advantage. SENATOR KELLY reiterated that the problem with a North Dakotan site is that it cannot protect Alaska and Hawaii. He added it is possible that missiles will be located in both Alaska and North Dakota. CHRIS NELSON, staff director for the Joint Committee on Military Bases, gave the following testimony. Five months ago North Korea launched a multi-stage ballistic missile that landed in the North Pacific. The New York Times made the following comments in an editorial the next day. North Korea's test of a medium range missile, capable of reaching targets in Japan and beyond, represents a technological breakthrough. Officials and arms experts said that the test suggested that North Korea had made real progress in its efforts to build a longer range missile, the Tapo Dawn (ph) II, which is reportedly capable of traveling 2400 to 3600 miles. That would give North Korea the ability to strike targets throughout Asia and as far away as Alaska.... MR. NELSON stated military experts believe that North Korea intends to put nuclear warheads on its intercontinental missiles or export its missiles to someone who would. North Korea's launch confirmed the conclusion reached by a bipartisan commission headed by former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfelt: that the United States is now vulnerable to ballistic missile attack and that our nation has no means to defend itself. He summarized by saying the rules of international relations and national defense changed when North Korean launched its missile. Support for SJR 4 indicates Alaska's traditional agreement and commitment to defending Alaska and fellow Americans. SENATOR PHILLIPS moved to amend page 2, line 8, by adding "the Honorable William Cohen, Secretary of Defense," to the list. There being no objection, the motion carried. SENATOR MACKIE moved CSSJR 4(STA) out of committee with individual recommendations. There being no objection, the motion carried.