Part 3/10:
Understanding the timing involved in nuclear strikes is vital. An intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) can travel across a continent or ocean in about 30 minutes. For example, from North Korea's capital, Pyongyang, to the U.S. East Coast, the journey may take approximately 33 minutes. From Moscow to the East Coast, the transit time is about 26 minutes and 40 seconds. These durations are based on the fundamental physics of missile flight paths—arcing up into space, then descending toward targets.
The point here is not artificial delay but inherent physics: once launched, a missile cannot be recalled or redirected. The window from launch detection to impact, especially on the farthest targets, is alarmingly short.