North Korea

There was something different about today's ballistic missile test: according to a preliminary analysis from the Pentagon, the rocket was an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, which was reported to have flown for 50 minutes, on a very high trajectory reaching 4,500 km above the earth (more than ten times higher than the orbit of Nasa’s International Space Station) before coming down nearly 1,000 km from the launch site off the west coast of Japan.

Update 1: Following the cancellation of what was supposed to be a bipartisan meeting at the White House to discuss the budget and tax reform, President Trump just wrapped up a brief press briefing that touched on everything from his spat with "Chuck and Nancy" to North Korea's latest missile launch.

On tax reform, Trump predicted that "adjustments" will be required to get a bill through the Senate:

*TRUMP SAYS NOT SURPRISED SCHUMER, PELOSI SKIPPED MEETING

*TRUMP SAYS THERE WILL BE ADJUSTMENTS TO TAX LEGISLATION

US equity futures in the green ahead of critical Senate debate on US tax reform and a much anticipated testimony from Yellen replacement Jerome Powell for Fed’s current policy approach.  European stocks advance, led by oil and gas stocks after Shell fully restored its cash dividend and unveiled a bullish outlook. Asian shares slide despite the reappearance of the Chinese "National Team" which stabilized the SHCOMP selloff in the last hour. USD recovers gradually from overnight lows against G-10, pushing GBP/USD and EUR/USD to session lows, while oil and treasuries edged lower.

Authored by Mac Slavo via SHTFplan.com,

The previously retired air raid warning sirens from the Cold War era in Hawaii will be wailing again come December. Only this time, it’s due to the rising tensions between the United States and North Korea.

Hawaii has long been a military defense outpost, sparking fears that North Korea could target the island.

 “I suppose that’s necessary as a precaution,” said Ted Tsukiyama, a Hawaiian resident, and WWII veteran.

 

Authored by Ron Paul via The Ron Paul Institute for Peace & Prosperity,

President Trump announced last week that he was returning North Korea to the US list of “state sponsors of terrorism” after having been off the list for the past nine years.