June 18 (Bloomberg) -- Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he has ordered the U.S. military to take defensive measures should North Korea attempt to fire a ballistic missile toward Hawaii, even as officials express skepticism of the possibility.

“I think we are in a good position, should it become necessary, to protect American territory,” Gates told reporters at the Pentagon today. Gates said he has directed the deployment of a missile interceptor system known as Theater High Altitude Area Defense, or Thaad, to Hawaii and the positioning of a sea- based radar system near the U.S. state.

The U.S. is making the preparations as North Korea threatens to conduct further missile tests in retaliation for a United Nations Security Council resolution approved on June 12 that imposes more penalties on the regime for previous tests.

The military also is watching a North Korean ship under the resolution’s authorization for the interdiction of vessels suspected of carrying illegal cargo for the regime’s nuclear or missile development efforts.

The U.S. Navy is tracking the Kang Nam because it may be carrying weapons technology though there is no confirmation of its cargo, two U.S. government officials who asked not to be identified said. Joint Chiefs Chairman Admiral Michael Mullen said he “wouldn’t go into any kind of details at this particular point in time,” when asked about the ship during the briefing with Gates.

Mullen said “we intend to vigorously enforce” the UN measure, under which a navy may only ask permission to board a vessel.

Development Timeline

North Korea would need at least three to five years to develop a missile that can reach the U.S., said Marine Corps General James Cartwright, vice chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, earlier this week.

Japan’s Yomiuri newspaper reported earlier today that North Korea might fire a long-range ballistic missile toward Hawaii, citing an analysis by the country’s Defense Ministry and intelligence from U.S. reconnaissance satellites.

The report said the Taepodong-2 missile wouldn’t be able to hit Hawaii’s main islands because they are out of the device’s 4,000-mile (6,500-kilometer) range.

The State Department expressed skepticism that any North Korean launch would hit a target.

“Their aim has not exactly been their strong suit,” said Philip J. Crowley, a spokesman for the State Department.

April Test

The first stage of a ballistic missile fired by North Korea over Japan in April fell into the Sea of Japan and the remaining stages dropped into the Pacific, the U.S. said at the time.

Asked whether a North Korean missile might hit anything, even accidentally, Crowley said, “I think that’s why we are concerned about the North Korean provocations, that at some point they might in fact do something intentionally or unintentionally that sparks a larger crisis.”

Hawaii would be defended primarily by one of the 28 long- range interceptors in silos in Alaska and California that have had eight successful intercepts out of 13 attempts in testing since 1999.

A Pentagon official involved in the testing said last month that the U.S. system would likely knock out a long-range North Korean missile.

“I’d believe we have a reasonable chance” of an intercept, Charles McQueary said in an interview on his last day in the job.

The Lockheed Martin Corp. Thaad missile is designed to intercept incoming warheads on their descent. The long-range interceptor rockets are meant to strike enemy missiles at higher altitudes.

Banks Alerted

In a separate action aimed at thwarting North Korean efforts to move illicit money, the U.S. Treasury Department today advised banks to watch for deceptive financial steps by the regime.

Banks in the U.S. and abroad should beware of attempts by North Korea to move money through third parties and obscure the origin of funds, to buy prohibited luxury goods and to make large cash deposits, according to the Treasury statement.

To contact the reporters on this story: Viola Gienger in Washington at vgienger@bloomberg.net; Tony Capaccio in Washington at acapaccio@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: June 18, 2009 18:56 EDT