The Week That Was The Real Threat Lurking Beneath the Hyperbole in North Korea Last week began with a win for the United States over U.N. sactions on North Korea. It ended, however, with hyperbolic promises of "fire and fury" from the U.S. president and strikingly specific threats from North Korea. The U.N. sanctions made for great theater, as Washington managed to secure support from Beijing and Moscow. But they won't slow North Korea's path to a nuclear deterrent. Pyongyang, in fact, followed up tough talk from President Donald Trump on Aug. 8 with news that its military leadership was drafting a plan for firing a four-missile salvo into the waters near Guam. The statements included an unusual level of detail and promises that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would have the plans in his hands by mid-August to deploy if and when he sees fit.