planet earth looks blue

North Korea has pulled out the white glove, announcing it will launch a missile that will then launch a satellite into orbit.  Their official stance is that they are focused on the satellite, although the assumption is that they are expressing their ability to fire a long-range missile, one that could potentially reach either Alaska or Hawaii.  Taepodong-2 is scheduled to launch between April 4th and the 8th, anywhere between 2am and 7pm.  The time range announcement is supposedly a warning to any ships that might be in the Sea of Japan, where debris could fall.  But it is still vague enough to make it difficult for any precise defense.

Robert Gates, the Secretary of Defense has already said that the US is capable of shooting down a North Korean missile if necessary with Tomahawk missiles.  Japan announced today that they also could shoot down the Taepodong-2, and legally has every right to.  The question is, who is bluffing, and who isn’t?  North Korea could just be trying to instigate the US, or be making a regional show of power by way of a mere threat, and have no intention at all of launching a satellite.  If they do, will the hawks at the Pentagon shoot it down - risking serious embarrassment if they fail, and sparking off further confrontation, forcing themselves to extend an already over-extended military?  Will Japan take action, not wanting North Korea to gain to much power in Asia?  Or will North Korea successfully launch their satellite, with no interruptions, solidifying their position in the region and the world?