Updated at: 0500 PST, Friday, June 19, 2009

WASHINGTON: The United States has concerns about a possible North Korean missile launch towards Hawaii and has taken steps to ensure the protection of US territory, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Thursday."We do have some concerns if they were to launch a missile ... in the direction of Hawaii," Gates told a news conference.Gates said he had approved the deployment of THAAD missile defense weaponry to the US state and radar "to provide support" in case of a possible North Korean missile attack.And he said that ground-based defenses in Alaska were also at the ready."I would just say I think we are in a good position should it become necessary to protect American territory," he said.The Theatre High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) weaponry is designed to shoot down ballistic missiles.US and South Korean officials have said North Korea might be readying another ballistic missile test after three previous launches in 1998, 2006 and this year.Pyongyang said its latest April 5 launch put a satellite into orbit, while the United States and its allies labeled it a disguised test of a Taepodong-2 missile theoretically capable of reaching Alaska.