According to a U.S. defense official, the Sea-Based X-Band Radar (SBX) system has left its port in Hawaii to monitor a potential North Korean ICBM test. The SBX can provide high-resolution radar imagery of the North Korean test, potentially providing a better understanding of the missile’s profile and capabilities. The SBX could also help U.S. Ground-based Interceptors shoot the missile down if the need arose. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said: “If the missile’s threatening, it will be intercepted. If it’s not threatening, we won’t necessarily do so…it may be more to our advantage to, first of all, save our interceptor inventory, and, second, to gather intelligence from the flight rather than do that when it’s not threatening.”