"It's better to think about this as just a catalyst. If there were no exercise ongoing, then of course North Korea would find other reasons to launch missiles."
Carnegie nuclear policy senior fellow Ankit Panda discusses recent nuclear saber-rattling by Russia and North Korea and whether the risk of nuclear conflict is growing.
The president’s approval rate has recovered, Karl Friedhoff writes, but a majority see his criticism of a broadcaster’s reporting as media suppression.
"I think this is part of a process that North Korea is carrying out, to try to normalize their weapons programs over all," Karl Friedhoff tells BBC World News.
