"Responding to concerns that North Korea is preparing to test a medium-range missile after weeks of bellicose threats, the commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific sought to reassure Congress on Tuesday that the Pentagon would be able intercept a missile aimed at the United States or its East Asian allies."
 ...
"The U.S. has never sought to shoot down a North Korean missile, and it's unclear if such a move would escalate the tension that has roiled the region."
                                          -Los Angeles Times, today.

Really? It's unclear if shooting down a North Korean missile would escalate tension? To whom?  To whom is that unclear?  Boy, I sure think it would.