Okay, so ... North Korea test fires four missiles, one of which was the long-range Taepodong-2. The Taepodong-2 failed about thirty seconds after lift-off.

Press reports frequently claim that the Taepodong-2 is capable of hitting the United States. The fine print is important, though. As the Times notes in their dispatch today: the Taepodong-2 "is thought to be potentially capable of reaching United States territory in Alaska, if North Korea perfects the technology. But that ability has never been demonstrated in a test. (emphasis added)"

It's a serious issue that bears watching. But also note that UN Ambassador John Bolton is the lead-milker of this story.