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U.S. and NATO with United Response to Russia; Security, Defense, and Foreign Aid All in Biden's Plate; Ukrainians Trying to Live a Normal Life; Russian Official Sergei Shoigu Missing in Action; U.S. Pledge to Welcome Thousands of Refugees; U.S. Slaps Russia with new sanctions; Ukraine Hit Russia's Landing Ship; Experts Alarmed by North Korea's ICBM Launch. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired March 25, 2022 - 03:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[03:00:00]

HALA GORANI, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, and welcome, everyone, and to our viewers around the world and also in the United States this hour. I'm Hala Gorani, reporting live from Lviv, Ukraine.

There is no break in the fighting against across Ukraine, and its capital where authorities report heavy rocket attacks from Russian forces. Ukrainian troops claim they have recaptured ground east of Kyiv previously occupied by the Russians. And battles are also raging in the eastern city of Kharkiv, as well as in the besieged port city of Mariupol.

Now we have no new video to share with you that shows the destruction in the town of Irpin to the northwest of Kyiv. The mayor says Russian forces are using Grad rocket systems. But that Ukraine's army is still able to control about 80 percent of the city. But you can see, at what cost of there.

Satellite images from the eastern city of Izyum show the damage of days of fighting. You can see a massive crater with a burned-out school on one side. Also, a damaged apartment complex and a church. The regional governor in Kharkiv in the east is reporting that six people who were just simply standing in line for aid were killed when a Russian missile hit a shopping mall parking lot.

The mayor of Kherson in the south, posted video of a huge Ukrainian flag draped down the wall of city hall. Now, Kherson was one of the first cities to fall to Ukrainian -- to Russian forces, and it's seen regular protests by locals there who do not want the Russian occupiers in their city.

U.S. President Joe Biden will visit with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen next hour before traveling today to Poland to visit American troops. He and other world leaders met Thursday in Brussels where they warned that there would be a response if Russia used chemical weapons in Ukraine.

Now that said, everyone agreed that Russia -- not everyone agreed that Russia should be expelled from the G20, and its next summit in November. But western leaders were keen to show that they are united against Moscow, and preparing for any worst-case scenarios.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JENS STOLTENBERG, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL: Our top military commander, General Walters, has activated NATO's chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear defense elements. And allies are deploying additional chemical and biological and nuclear defenses to reinforce our existing and new battle groups.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GORANI: Well, CNN has all these diplomatic angles covered with correspondents across Europe. Kevin Liptak is live this hour in Warsaw, Poland. But we begin with Natasha Bertrand, she is in Brussels with more on what over the last 24 hours came out of these extraordinary meetings. Natasha.

NATASHA BERTRAND, CNN White HOUSE REPORTER: Yes, so broad agreement on the need to continue to hold Russia accountable for its war in Ukraine including additional sanctions, warning of consequences that Russia -- if Russia did employ those chemical weapons inside Ukraine. But short on details, right. Short on details about what those consequences would actually be if Russia did in fact take that step, and use weapons of mass destruction of any kind in Ukraine.

Now what we did see yesterday, was a statement of unity, of course among the NATO allies and among the European leaders about the need to protect NATO, and of course the E.U. from any potential Russian aggression. And that was really kind of the main topic of discussion yesterday. Was how do we make sure that our NATO allies are protected in the event that the Russian onslaught in Ukraine does get closer and closer to Ukraine's -- to Poland's border, for example, to that NATO territory.

Of course, we've seen that Russia has in fact expanded its targets, and they have been targeting military bases and other targets further and further west in the country. And so that was a main topic of discussion on the main priority yesterday how to shore up those defenses, including by increasing troop posture in the eastern flank of the NATO alliance.

And of course, additional battle groups there. Sending them additional air -- air defense systems in order to protect against any potential air and missile attacks of course. But ultimately, there was agreement as well about sending additional weaponry to Ukraine. Of course, they are trying to raise the cost for Vladimir Putin's operation there, and trying to allow Ukraine to sustain that fight against the Russians.

But we have new reporting that says Ukraine has asked for 500 new Stinger missiles and Javelins per day, 500 of each. And so, it remains to be seen whether the U.S. and the west are going to be able to sustain that level of military shipments to Ukraine. Of course, especially considering that the Russians have already said that any kind of weapon shipments into Ukraine can be considered a legitimate target by the Russians.

[03:04:57]

And so, whether that supply chain and supply line remains open, and how to -- how keep it open was also a key priority of discussion yesterday, we are told, but of course the Ukrainians are asking for as much as the west is able to provide to them right now in terms of weaponry and financial support, Hala.

GORANI: All right, Natasha Bertrand, thanks very much, live in Brussels. Let's cross over to CNN White House reporter Kevin Liptak in Warsaw, Poland there where the American President Joe Biden is due to arrive later today. We know he will meet with U.S. troops, and also with the Polish president.

And we've been reporting from the beginning of this story, this invasion of this country by Russia that Poland has taken in the most number of Ukrainian refugees. And I imagine they will be asking the United States as well for ways to help that country shoulder some of -- some of that enormous burden on their economy and their services.

KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yes, and you've already seen Polish leaders ask the United States for more assistance. The U.S. has provided millions of dollars to Poland to help accommodate this refugee flow. But certainly, Polish leaders are looking for more.

And this visit to Poland is really an opportunity for President Biden to see the issues that he discussed at NATO at closer range. To come to the eastern flank, into Warsaw, into Poland to kind of experience of what it's like here close to the war in Ukraine where refugees are coming, where refugees are unsettled by what's happening on their borders.

And so, you'll see the president today visit a town that's about 60 miles from the Ukrainian border. He'll hold a roundtable with the Polish President Andrzej Duda, focusing on this refugee issue. Now it's only a week and a half ago that Vice President Kamala Harris was here in Warsaw, she met with Duda, as well. And he was very explicit that he needed the United States to do more to expedite potential refugees from Ukraine who had family in Poland.

Now yesterday, President Biden said in Brussels that the U.S. would accept up to 100,000 refugees from Ukraine. And so that's certainly a topic for discussion while he is here. The president will also, as you said, meet with members of the American 82nd Airborne Division.

That deployment came as this war heated up, as the United States wanted to reassure its allies in Europe that it had their back. That NATO had their back, and that's something that the president will also discuss with Polish leaders who have their own ideas about how security can be bolstered in this region.

They're looking for more permanent defense force in this area and that's something that was discussed at NATO. It will be something that's discussed at another NATO summit in June. No decisions yet on the permanent force posture. But certainly, that's something that will be discussed. Another thing that Poland has proposed is an international

peacekeeping force in Ukraine. That's not something that U.S. officials have warmed to necessarily. Saying that it could potentially put U.S. troops in direct conflict with Russian troops. And that's something that President Biden has been very explicit, that he is not willing to do.

But that is another thing that the president will have to discuss what he is here in Poland as well. So, the president is arriving later today, we'll see him on these stops. Tomorrow he will sit down for these formal bilateral talks with the president Duda before he makes a speech, sort of laying out his accomplishments on this trip. His goals of this trip before heading back to Washington on Saturday night, Hala.

GORANI: All right, thank you so much, Kevin Liptak, thank you.

Ukraine is accusing Russia of putting the lives of Chernobyl nuclear plant workers at risk. The plant has been occupied by Russian troops for more than a month now. But Ukraine told the U.N. Atomic Energy Agency that Russia recently shelled a nearby village where many workers lived.

According to Ukraine, that not only endangered those who make sure the plant stays safe, but it also prevented their shift rotation which begs the question why are they doing this? The attack came just days after Russia allowed the workers who have been stuck at Chernobyl sends its occupation to go home for the first time.

Now we want to bring you now a snapshot of life in parts of Ukraine not occupied by Russian forces. People there still try to maintain a version of normal life as much as it's possible during a war. All the while knowing that fighting is never too far away.

For that, we are joined by journalist Romeo Kokriatski who speaks with us from Vinnytsia, southwest of Kyiv. Thanks for being with us, Romeo.

So, talk to us about what your reporting has revealed, in terms of just how unusual, extraordinary and tragic circumstances people are trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy.

[03:09:54]

ROMEO KOKRIATSKI, JOURNALIST: Thanks for having me on. I mean, since the war, economic activity in the country basically stopped, it zeroed out. And as a result, money needs to get moving again if Ukraine is to stay in the war effort.

So, people in the non- conflict affected areas are trying to do so. Restaurants are reopening, stores are opening up, online services are going. So, people are trying to reestablish some kind of life despite the ongoing conflict in this country. Of course, that has been made difficult because a lot of the country's kind of economic centers, Kharkiv, Kyiv have been very heavily impacted by Russian attacks this whole time. GORANI: And how for instance is, I mean, if people keep their

businesses open in the western part of the country. We're now seeing a little more retail activity, certainly. Are there issues with getting payments, the banking system, all of those things that need to be well-oiled institutions in order for an economy to keep running. How is that aspect of things?

KOKRIATSKI: Thankfully the Ukrainian government and the National Bank of Ukraine have reassured us multiple times the system is working. I mean, I can personally confirm that pretty much every store still takes credit cards, those payments are still processed. I still get paid which is a pretty good sign. Like the ATMs in places like Kyiv are running a little low on cash. But you can generally get access to that in other parts of the country.

(CROSSTALK)

GORANI: Well, I'm glad --

KOKRIATSKI: So, so, far, things -- things seem to be working smoothly.

GORANI: Sorry, sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you. I'm glad to hear you're still getting paid, that's always very important. But talk to us about morale. Because obviously, in the initial weeks of the invasion there was such a strong nationalist rooted really in pride of country effort of resistance to the Russian occupation in some parts an invasion and others. And I wonder when war grinds on, at some point you become just psychologically exhausted. Where are we one month in?

KOKRIATSKI: I mean, if anything, I think Ukrainian resistance has only strengthened. When you see pictures coming out of places like Mariupol, which has been 90 percent destroyed, it's not even correct to call it a city anymore. When you hear about how the Russian invaders are treating people protesters in Kherson, which they have occupied, basically since the beginning of the conflict. We see the future that awaits us in Russia if Russia is to win.

So, as long as that remains the case, Ukrainians are not going to give up fighting. And this is a conflict we have had with Russia for centuries. This is -- this is not the first time Russia has attempted to assert its will over Ukraine. And everyone here remembers the (Inaudible), they remember the purges during the Soviet Union and no one is looking to have a repeat of that.

GORANI: Yes. Do you, I mean, I know that being -- I have been here almost a month and now, I hear oftentimes from Ukrainians that they believe that a no-fly zone is what could at least stop some of the carnage coming from the air. But absent that, that they want more weapons, they want more anti-aircraft weaponry. They want fighter jets, with which western countries are saying they are not willing to provide now because they are concerned that this would create a situation where Russia will feel that it's entered into some sort of direct confrontation with NATO countries. Are they -- is there real frustration here that the west is not doing enough? KOKRIATSKI: No, absolutely. During Presidents Zelenskyy's address to

NATO the other day you can actually see that frustration on his face. And pretty much every Ukrainian that I have spoken to following his address, expressed the exact same feeling. That they are angry, and they are frustrated that western nations, and specifically, NATO member countries talk a big game. But they're not providing us with the material support we need.

The fact is, the Russians while aren't -- while they don't have complete air dominance over Ukraine and the skies, they can still run sorties and they can still do bombing runs, more or less on repeated.

GORANI: Yes.

KOKRIATSKI: And in order for that to stop we need some sort of anti- air defenses. It doesn't matter whether that comes in the form of fighter jets, or Patriot batteries, or whatever it is. But that is one area where we are now mashing the Russians and without additional support we can't. And every single time a Russian plane reaches Ukrainian --

GORANI: Yes. We just lost Romeo Kokriatski there from Vinnytsia. Thankfully we were just wrapping up. So, Romeo, I thank you very much for making that point. We'll keep in close touch with you there as you continue to report on this Russian invasion, and how just ordinary Ukrainians are trying to continue to live as normal lives as they possibly can.

[03:15:05]

Now as Russia's invasion drags on, one of its military chiefs is largely out of public view. Still ahead, speculation grows about the whereabouts and the health of the Russian defense minister. Where is he?

Plus, Russia may be turning into an economic pariah, but it still has friends that it can do business with. We'll tell you -- you may have a general sense of who I'm going to talk about. We'll tell you who those countries are after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:20:00]

GORANI: As Moscow tries to press on with its invasion of Ukraine, speculation is growing about the whereabouts of a man in charge of the Russian armed forces. The defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, he's been keeping a very low profile despite the war going on.

On Wednesday, an independent Russian news outlet said that he may be in poor health. On Thursday, state television showed a video of him attending a meeting, but did not say when the video was taken.

When the CNN pressed a Kremlin spokesperson on the issue, he only said the ministry is busy and he derided a Russian media outlet the said he was ill. Nina dos Santos joins me now from London with more. Tell us more about

the speculation, and also it is unusual that in the middle of a war a man with such a high profile would suddenly almost disappear.

NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right, and he's also somebody who is very close to Vladimir Putin, Hala. But it should be noticed that he is somebody who, is not only from a military background, he made his way through this brief of defense minister through politics, if you like, because he used to be the head of the emergency situations department in for Russia.

Now, as you are pointing out, what is interesting is that he's been absent from airwaves and screens for 12 days, and that had led to a lot of speculation that he might be suffering from heart problems. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson appear to cross those types of rumors yesterday by saying well, you know, he's just very busy as you can imagine, we have this special military operation, as the Kremlin continues to pitch the war in Ukraine. And that is keeping him occupied.

But he did pop up in one of these teleconferences, but just for a fleeting few seconds, appearing to give people an update or at least ministers an update on how that operation in Ukraine is going. But you couldn't hear is audio. The only thing that really gave you an indication that it wasn't pre-recorded static image was the fact that his arm was moving during it and he fleetingly, you know, moved away. The shot moved to something else.

So, this is obviously the Kremlin trying to show that, yes, he's still in the picture, he's still around, but only for a few seconds, and it's not likely to quash rumors about how in charge he is, or whether or not he's facing criticism because of how that so-called special military operation or the war in Ukraine, as everybody else calls it is going.

And meanwhile, the casualties continue to mount but the Kremlin isn't keen on acknowledging the tens of thousands of people may well have lost their lives among the Russian troops. Hala?

GORANI: Yes, because there are some discrepancies between the number of Russian casualties that Russia is acknowledging, and estimates coming from both the Ukrainians and also western sources that put that number very high.

DOS SANTOS: Yes.

GORANI: In some cases, over almost 20,000 potentially. But at least several thousand. Talk to us about those differences in numbers.

DOS SANTOS: Very wide differences in numbers here. NATO is saying that if you account for the number of Russian military personnel who have either been captured in Ukraine, wounded, or currently missing in action, perhaps deserted, you could be talking about up to 40,000 people here.

Now the Ukrainian estimate, which NATO appears to corroborate, could be anything between 7,000 Russian troops who so far of lost their lives, all the way up to about 15,000 troops so far. At the moment, the Kremlin is only still sticking by the officially acknowledged a figure of 498 people, and that was the number of casualties that they published back on March the 2nd.

But a Russian newspaper appeared to accidentally lift the veil on the true scale of the cost so far amongst Russian soldiers about a week or so ago when it published a very small snippet which is subsequently removed, saying that the ministry of defense had acknowledge that there were almost 10,000 Russian soldiers who had been killed in what's going on in Ukraine so far.

And if that is the case, well, if you're tally that up, it looks as though Russia could be on course for one of the worst death tolls of military adventurism since the first Chechen war, or indeed, its activities in Afghanistan back in the late 1980s. And if that were to transpire, that would make Vladimir Putin less popular. And also put the heat continually on his defense minister Sergei Shoigu. Hala?

GORANI: Sure. And in such a short period of time we're talking about one month here.

DOS SANTOS: Yes.

GORANI: Nina dos Santos in London, thanks so much.

Quick break, when we come back, western leaders wrap up a series of important summits in Brussels as war continues to rage on in Ukraine.

Also coming up, the U.S. president travels next to Poland, which has taken more Ukrainian refugees than any other country. We'll have that as well.

[03:25:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GORANI: Welcome back. I'm Hala Gorani live in Lviv, Ukraine.

U.S. President Joe Biden is due to meet with the president of the European Commission next hour before he travels to Poland, west of our position here in Ukraine.

Thursday's emergency summit in Brussels produced a stern warning to Russia against using chemical weapons in Ukraine. The warnings have not ever had much effect in this war. The U.S. also has unveiled new sanctions on more than 300 Russian lawmakers in the Duma.

[03:30:00]

The clear message was that western leaders are united in their support of Ukraine.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Putin was banking on NATO being split. My early conversation with him in December and early January was clear to me he didn't think we could sustain this cohesion. NATO has never, never been more united than it is today. Putin is getting exactly the opposite of what he intended to have as a consequence of going into Ukraine.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GORANI: There have been some pretty significant battlefield successes for the Ukrainians. The U.S. says that it's likely that Ukrainians in fact did exactly what it has claimed. And that was strike a Russian warship turning it into a fireball on Thursday. A U.S. defense official ask that it's still unclear what weapon was used in this particular attack but this is a Russian port that is occupied by the Russians which means they are using some longer range weaponry.

Phil Black has this story, but we warn you some images in his report are graphic.

PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The Russian military says it's in control of this port. That fiercely burning ship suggest otherwise. The landing vessel Orsk began exploding in Berdyansk not long after sunrise. Other boats and warships can be seen scrambling to get away from the fire as debris falls in the water around them.

Ukraine says it destroyed the Orsk and the fire spread to a weapons depot. Ukraine hasn't revealed what weapons it used to carry out the attack.

At Izyum, fiercely fought over territory in the east, a local man inspects what's left of the city. Pointing out bodies when he sees them while shelves continue to fall nearby. Russia's military says all this is in their control now. Ukraine says the fight for Izyum isn't over.

Driving through Mariupol is an apocalyptic experience. Bodies and debris lie on the road. Someone is shooting. The driver slams his foot down to get away. Being outside in this besieged city is dangerous. But after weeks of Russia's blockade and constant bombardment, people in Mariupol have no choice but to line up outside for food.

This video from Kharkiv proves the risk. It's the panicked aftermath of a Russian strike on a parking lot where people were also waiting for aid. The region's governor says six people were killed.

And this tour is through what remains of Chernihiv in the country's north. The city's mayor is driving. He says complete carnage has been unleashed here. Civilians across Ukraine's towns and cities are documenting their devastated communities because they want people everywhere to see understand.

Phil Black, CNN, Lviv, Ukraine.

GORANI: Well, one month into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. is ramping up its humanitarian assistance in a pretty major way. The Biden administration announced that the U.S. will take in up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees and other people fleeing this Russian aggression. It also pledged to more than a billion dollars in aid for necessities like food, medicine, and shelter.

The number of people escaping Ukraine is now approaching 3.7 million, according to the U.N. The vast majority have been crossing into Poland, although many are using that as a launch point to reach other parts of Europe.

Many of those refugees are from the city of Chernihiv north of Kyiv. Residents have been fleeing the city, which has been under heavy bombardment from the Russians for weeks now. The city's mayor filmed this video of the burned-out buildings and fires that are just about all that is left.

One of those who fled is a 15-year-old boy, Andriy, who barely escaped after being forced from his home at gunpoint and driving over what he thinks was a land mine. His mother did not survive the attack. He told his story to our John Berman.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN BERMAN, CNN HOST: What do you want the world to know about your mother?

ANDRIY, ESCAPED CHERNIHIV: Sorry.

BERMAN: I'm sorry.

ANDRIY: Excuse me. Thank you.

[03:35:00]

ANDRIY (through translator): I want them to know that my mother was a very beautiful woman. She always liked things to be tidy and clean. And my father and I was always support to (Inaudible) and supported her and right now it's very -- it's very difficult without mother.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GORANI: All so unbelievably senses. If you would like to help people in Ukraine who may be in need of basic necessities you can go to our web site cnn.com/ impact. You will find several ways you can help there.

Well, that's going to do it for me in Lviv, Ukraine right now. But when CNN returns, my colleague Paula Newton will take a closer look at the latest sanctions against Russia. That's next.

[03:40:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PAULA NEWTON, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Paula Newton live from CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.

The U.S. is slapping new sanctions on Russia, this time the Treasury Department is targeting more than 300 Russian lawmakers as well as the state Duma itself. Now that's the lower house of the Russian legislative assembly. The U.S. is also imposing sanctions on dozens of Russian defense companies, and the CEO of Russia's largest financial institution.

Maria Shagina is a visiting senior fellow at the Finish Institute of international affairs. She is with us now from Zurich. Thank you so much for joining us as we try and really get through the impact that these sanctions may have.

They are unprecedented, they continue to expand. And the focus now is how to make them more effective, right? And guard against sanctions evasion, how best to do that?

MARIA SHAGINA, VISITING SENIOR FELLOW, FINNISH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS: Good morning, and thank you for having me. Indeed, this is an unprecedented sanction around. And we are hearing about the new sanctions move towards closer coordination with allies. And as you just said, we heard that 300 Russian lawmakers and the Russian Duma were under sanctions now. Also talking about dozens of defense companies, also a CEO of Sberbank, Russia's largest bank.

And that brings U.S. sanctions on the same page with the E.U. and the U.K. sanctions. So, this is very important for sanctions enforcement and more effective sanctions impact. Also, what was imposed yesterday is quite a novel prohibition on any gold related transactions.

We know that in February the allies impose sanctions on Russian international assets. So about two-thirds of central bank's assets are frozen now. And Russia is left basically with gold and yuan. Now any prohibition on gold-related transactions will stiffen Russia's ability to fund its economy, to prop up its currency which is crucially important right now.

NEWTON: Yes, absolutely. And look, there's no doubt that the sanctions are punitive and will continue to be. But do they achieve the stated goal? I mean, we can talk even in the last 24 hours about North Korea. They have been under a sanctions regime for years. It is not really stop them. So, what are your thoughts on what would convince Putin? How far these sanctions would have to go, for him really to go to the negotiating table?

SHAGINA: At the moment, the objections of sanctions is not to change Putin's behavior calculus and the Kremlin but to constrain Russia's military ability. The idea is that sanctions will erode this fortress a Russia strategy, the economy that the Kremlin has been building these international reserves for the past 15 years. And that was wiped out with a stroke of a pen from various jurisdictions.

So, if we can't constrain Russia's ability to wage this war in Ukraine to match the level of atrocities this will be a partial success. As you have said, some countries like North Korea and Iran are hard-hit with other sanctions and they have survived. But here, closing down the loopholes, and also targeting sanctions -- countries that did not align, and here we're talking about China, India, is crucially important. By not giving Russia any alternatives how to fund itself militarily, economically, is crucially important to make these sanction regime's more effective. NEWTON: Do you worry that as this drags on though, that the results

to keep those sanctions in place may waver. This will be quite punitive on Europe, especially as it will on Russia.

SHAGINA: There are no surgical sanctions, there are no easy solutions, cost-free solutions here. So, there is a clear understanding even in Europe now that this will come at a high cost. There is also strategic communication coming from European capitals that everyone will have to bear some partial cause for the sanctions.

[03:44:53]

And this is another announcement that was made yesterday, that Biden administration is ready to ship additional LNG cargoes to Europe to alleviate its strong dependency on Russian gas. And this is important as a first stepping stone towards any potential energy sanctions, vis- a-vis Russia, which will be the next step to match the level of Russian atrocities in Ukraine.

NEWTON: Yes, absolutely, especially as Europe looks to next fall and winter to try and achieve obviously the energy needs that it has, the energy goals that it has.

Maria Shagina, thanks so much. I appreciate your input there.

SHAGINA: Thank you.

NEWTON: Now North Korea is again putting the world on edge. We are just talking about that following Thursday's missile launch. You will experts concerned about the world's missile defense systems.

[03:50:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NEWTON: To North Korea now, and what appears to be a major escalation of its weapons program. Now according to state media, leader Kim Jong- un was on hand to watch the launch of the biggest intercontinental ballistic missile ever made by the North, and the first such test in five years.

Now, the ICBM was launched vertically stayed in the air for 71 minutes, reaching a maximum altitude of more than 3,700 miles, traveling higher and longer than any previous missile test before crashing then into the waters between North Korea and Japan.

Now, if fired on a standard trajectory, experts believe the so-called monster missile could travel more than 8,000 miles, placing all of the continental United States within range. Now, South Korea responded to the launch with a live fire test of its own missiles from land, a fighter jet and a ship, and along with the U.S. and Japan, North Korea -- condemned North Korea for violating U.N. sanctions.

Now, so what if North Korea actually launches a missile at mainland U.S. -- at the mainland U.S. For years, the government has said the missile defense system would stop any threat from above. But experts now warn that might not be the case.

Will Ripley explains.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNKNOWN: Three, two, one, ignition.

WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): America's missile defense system, the best and perhaps only line of defense from a North Korean nuclear missile aimed at the U.S., now a stunning warning from some of America's leading experts.

FREDERICK LAMB, PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS: If North Korea were to fire a nuclear arms ICBM at the United States, we cannot be sure that our missile defense system would prevent the deaths of millions of Americans.

RIPLEY: Kim Jong-un's most powerful test in almost five years, an intercontinental ballistic missile. A warning to President Joe Biden and America, as North Korea sharpens its nuclear sword. For years, U.S. leaders have reassured the public.

MICHAEL PENCE, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Missile defense begins here.

RIPLEY: And Americas allies.

UNKNOWN: We should be very confident.

RIPLEY: Missile defense systems can keep them safe.

DONALD TRUMP, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Easily shoot them out of the sky.

RIPLEY: Senior defense officials project confidence, the U.S. could also shoot down a North Korean ICBM.

UNKNOWN: The defense of the homeland.

RIPLEY: These experts say the odds of success are very low.

LAURA GREGO, STANTON NUCLEAR SECURITY FELLOW, MIT: It's been described as hitting a bullet with a bullet, trying to hit warhead.

RIPLEY: For the first study of its kind in almost 10 years, commissioned by the American Physical Society, their conclusion, despite more than six decades of missile defense efforts and $350 billion U.S. taxpayer dollars, no missile defense system has been shown to be effective against realistic ICBM threats.

Why is it so hard to shoot down an ICBM?

LAMB: That warhead undoubtedly accompanied by decoys, and by things to fool the defense, or overwhelm the defense.

RIPLEY: A fundamental problem. JAMES WELLS, PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN: We do not see in the

next 15 years that an effective defense that can be mounted against ICBMs.

RIPLEY: The current system has only been tested 19 times since 1999.

GREGO: And in those tests, they have been essentially scripted for success. But even so, the tests have only succeeded around half the time.

RIPLEY: But what about all those successful intercepts in the Middle East? What about the Iron Dome?

WELLS: ICBMs are qualitatively different threat than many of the missiles that we have right about in the news, traveling significantly higher and having potential penetration aids and countermeasures.

RIPLEY: CNN reached out to the U.S. Missile Defense Agency. When asked about the report's findings, a spokesman cited this defense report from January. It says, the missile defense system has demonstrated a measured capability to defend the United States, deploy forces, and allies from a rogue nations missile attack. And, that its most advanced radar will be able to separate the warhead from a cloud of decoys.

U.S. think tank CSIS says these images showing an undeclared North Korean missile base, just miles from the Chinese border. A potential launch site for ICBMs.

JOSEPH YUN, FORMER U.S. SPECIAL ENVOY FOR NORTH KOREA: We need to understand, there is no military solution.

RIPLEY: Former U.S. ambassador and special envoy to North Korea, Joseph Yun believes the only option is for President Biden to take a page from the playbook of former President Trump, and reach out directly to Kim Jong-un.

[03:55:01]

Do you think it's a mistake that the Biden administration is not focusing more on North Korea?

YUN: I think it is a mistake. I think the longer this situation continues, more serious will the provocations be.

RIPLEY: He says, diplomacy may be the only way to keep the missiles from flying, to keep America safe.

Will Ripley, CNN, Taipei.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NEWTON: And that does it for us this hour. I'm Paula Newton. Our breaking news coverage continues right after a break.

[04:00:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NEWTON: Hello, and a warm welcome to our viewers joining us here in the United States and all around the world.