Gates: U.S. ready against N. Korea strike Posted byadmin June 19, 2009 Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the United States could defend itself in the event of a North Korean missile launch toward Hawaii, and that U.S. officials were monitoring the situation carefully. Related posts: Gates: Nuclear-armed N. Korea not acceptable N. Korea: Ready to launch satellite U.S. still open on Iran, Gates says Ready for a Fight: Russia’s New Security Policy Gates: Obama to decide on Afghanistan troops in ‘days’