How do ICBM early warning systems differentiate between a real threat and a launch of a normal rocket intended to go to space?

Question

How do ICBM early warning systems differentiate between a real threat and a launch of a normal rocket intended to go to space?

In: 2759

Answer 1

Normal launches originate from a very small number of well documented launch sites. Yes in theory you could launch an ICBM from Cape Canaveral… but a launch from Siberian would raise eye brows.