I don’t write much about North Korea these days, but an apparently-successful Dec. 11 satellite launch would seem to warrant a mention.

“According to NORAD:”:http://www.norad.mil/News/2012/121112b.html

bq. U.S. missile warning systems detected and tracked the launch of a North Korean missile at 7:49 p.m. EST. The missile was tracked on a southerly azimuth. Initial indications are that the first stage fell into the Yellow Sea. The second stage was assessed to fall into the Philippine Sea. Initial *indications are that the missile deployed an object that appeared to achieve orbit.* At no time was the missile or the resultant debris a threat to North America.