1.   Initial fears that the Scuds were carrying chemical warheads proved groundless.

2.   All the missiles carried just conventional, rather than chemical warheads.

3.   But the fact is, Israel has been living for years next to Syrian Scud missiles, with chemical warheads.

4.   For example, in one scenario the system is intended to handle, North Korea fires a missile with five chemical warheads at the United States.

5.   Iraq is allowed to make short-range missiles under UN resolutions, but it is not allowed to make chemical warheads.

6.   Placing chemical warheads on missiles is not a simple task.

7.   U.S. intelligence officials also say North Korea has ballistic missiles along the demilitarized zone with South Korea capable of firing deadly chemical warheads.

8.   Ahead of the Gulf War, the Israeli government distributed gas masks to the population in response to threats by Iraq to attack Israel with missiles carrying chemical warheads.

9.   After the Gulf War, U.N. inspectors destroyed Iraqi ballistic missiles and chemical warheads.