The Japanese didn't say they would shoot down the rocket, they said they would shoot down the debris if it fell over their land.

The test wasn't a complete failure, they effectively demonstrated that they have no regard for the UN and that nothing scares them, that if they want to fire anything, they will.

So much for China pulling the plug, they and Russia declared they will use their power of Veto to keep any real sanctions against the North from happening. They're sitting on a fence. North Korea is the biggest manufacturer of anti-american weapons. They sell the most to our enemies. I'm sure China has a stockpile. They may have been buying our debt, that doesn't mean much to communist countries. Especially since our dollar is depreciating at a rapid pace which means the stock they have is also depreciating just as quick.

This will get interesting, but I've said it before. NK will push and push until someone pushes back. They're either as crazy as everyone says they are, which makes them dangerous. Or they've got a real good hand and the rest of us don't know it. Either way, they bomb one of our allies, it will only take a few well placed bombs to put them back into the pre-industrial times.

I stand corrected. The Japanese did say they would should down debris or if the rocket threatened their country. Technically the rocket did not perform as it should have, but it did get the world's attention. As a propaganda tool, the test was a success.

It will be interesting to see how the Obama administration handles this matter...