MATTIS SAYS NORTH KOREA’S RECKLESS ACTIONS MUST BE STOPPED: The SecDef is talking about nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.

“This is a threat of both rhetoric and growing capability, and we will be working with the international community to address this,” he said. “We are working through the United Nations, we are working our allies, and we are working diplomatically including with those who we might be able to enlist in this effort to get North Korea under control.”

My last Observer column assessed the North’s escalating rhetoric and improving capabilities. It’s got the background.

UPDATE: I see Stephen posted on North Korea while I was typing up this post. Same story. But it’s a big one.

ANOTHER UPDATE: Hey, I read all the posts. I just hadn’t looked at the page in about 20 minutes and was going through about four articles on Korea. This report struck me as the best of the lot.