North Korean ICBM: Today's News for July 5th

Daily Mail:

Kim Jong-un riles Trump on the Fourth: 

US President calls emergency meeting to formulate 'measured response' to North Korea's record-breaking missile test amid fears one could hit Alaska

President Donald Trump called an emergency meeting on the Fourth of July to formulate a 'measured response' to North Korea's first intercontinental ballistic missile test, amid fears it could reach as far as Alaska.

North Korea declared Tuesday that it had finally achieved its dream of building an intercontinental ballistic missile, saying it would 'fundamentally put an end to the US nuclear war threat and blackmail'.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson later confirmed the latest missile test was with an intercontinental ballistic missile.

Even though the media likes to point out this North Korean ICBM can hit Alaska, that actually isn't the most dangerous aspect of it. Alaska'a population is roughly 742,000 people.

Even if it cannot hit the west coast of the continental United States, if the North Koreans were to detonate it high enough in the air near the west coast, the electromagnetic pulse created could fry all the electronic equipment over multiple western states. The economic damage alone would be huge. Imagine entire western states in a blackout that lasts for months.

So what do we do?

The US has requested a closed-door meeting of the United Nations Security Council on North Korea's latest missile launch, a spokesman for the US mission to the United Nations says.

The spokesman said the meeting of the 15-member council was likely to be scheduled for Wednesday.

If data and intelligence proves the ICBM was launched, officials say Trump would potentially approve a 'measured response' to deal with North Korea.

Potential responses include sending additional troops to the region and possibly more sanctions. 

Alternatively:

Russia and China joined diplomatic forces on Tuesday and called on North Korea, South Korea and the US to sign up to a Chinese de-escalation plan designed to defuse tensions around Pyongyang's missile program.

The plan would see North Korea suspend its ballistic missile program and the US and South Korea simultaneously call a moratorium on large-scale missile exercises, both moves aimed at paving the way for multilateral talks.  

Even if you don't agree with China's plan, it is at least a good starting point for discussion.

In other international news...

France 24:

Catalonia to declare immediate independence if 'yes' wins referendum 

Catalonia will declare independence "immediately" if a majority of the Spanish region's voters opt for independence in a Scotland-style referendum called for October, its ruling coalition said Tuesday.

"If the majority of votes are for creating a Catalan republic, obviously independence will have to be declared immediately," said Gabriela Serra, a member of the separatist coalition that governs Catalonia.

Her comments came as the coalition presented a law aimed at extracting the northeastern region from Spain's legal system in a bid to circumvent all legal and practical challenges to organising a referendum -- a move that will deepen tensions with Madrid.

Admittedly, this does not impact Americans much. However, it is one of those things that sets a precedent that could have political ramifications around the world, by showing people that it is possible to secede from a government with which you don't agree. Regardless of your political leanings, all of us have at least considered the possibility of secession at one time.

Also internationally...

CNN:

Trump faces stiff challenge in Merkel, Putin showdowns

Long story short: President Trump is going to Hamburg, Germany for a G20 summit, which Wikipedia describes as:

The G20 (or G-20 or Group of Twenty) is an international forum for the governments and central bank governors from 20 major economies founded in 1999. the G20 aims to discuss policy issues pertaining to the promotion of international financial stability.

But the story is important to the Left, and CNN in particular because:

The northern port city in Germany is also the setting for Trump's first in-person meeting Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a closely watched session that has taken on greater significance given the swirl of controversy about Russia's cyber meddling in last year's election.

In a news story, a speculative accusation cannot be reported as a given fact. Unless you are CNN, and this is your big ratings "nothing burger".

And finally...

Reason:

Exclusive: Libertarian Activist Austin Petersen Is Running for U.S. Senate...as a Republican! 

In an exclusive interview with Reason, Austin Petersen, the second-place [*] finisher (to Gary Johnson and John McAfee) in the Libertarian Party's presidential primary, explains why he is running for the U.S. Senate in his home state of Missouri—as a Republican.

I will have more on this story later. Suffice it to say, I personally consider this as good news for all Americans.