North Korea has made great strides building and testing a variety of large liquid and solid-fueled strategic missile systems over the past nine years, including the Hwasong-15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 long-range missiles that form the backbone of its plan to deter the U.S. 

These nuclear intermediate and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) could target not only American cities, but also American military bases in Japan, South Korea and across the Pacific. 

But how resistant are these missiles to U.S. left-of-launch strategies that seek to preempt North Korean launches? 

A close examination of DPRK launch