The vessel has the technological potential to shoot down a North Korean ballistic missile, something neither the United States nor Japan have ruled out doing.

VOA: standard.2009.03.12

Throughout the treaty negotiations, I frequently consulted the New START team on all potential impacts to missile defense.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center for Security Policy | Mapping a National Security Failure: Ratification of the New START Treaty | Page: 13

Others say keeping Gates could delay the change that Obama promised during his campaign, because it could lead to potential policy conflicts over missile defense funding and a speedy Iraq pullout.

CNN: Obama rolls out national security team

In his reply President Bush invites the UK to "participate at an early stage in any program to replace the D5 missiles or to discuss a further life extension - for your purposes - of the D5 missile to match the potential out-of-service date of your new submarines".

BBC: NEWS | UK | UK Politics | US to discuss UK Trident lifespan