The "Norks"—(North Koreans)...

"...[T]here is some compelling evidence that North Korea just might be able to deliver on its threat to make a catastrophic nuclear attack on the United States: North Korea has conducted three successful nuclear tests, and has weaponized its nuclear devices into warheads that are deployed on its Nodong medium-range missiles.

In December, North Korea successfully orbited a satellite weighing 220 pounds--so they could deliver against the United States, or against any nation on Earth, a small nuclear warhead. A nuclear weapon designed specially to generate a powerful electromagnetic pulse (EMP)--a single such "Super-EMP" warhead would be able to collapse the U.S. electric grid and other critical infrastructures, inflicting catastrophic consequences on the entire nation--would probably be deliverable by North Korea's so-called "Space Launch Vehicle" over the United States.

"North Korea orbited its satellite on a trajectory and at an altitude ideal for making an EMP attack on the U.S.. The Congressional EMP Commission warned in 2008 that North Korea was developing Super-EMP warheads. South Korean military intelligence has reportedly warned their government repeatedly that North Korea is developing Super-EMP warheads with Russian help. In 2011, a military commentator with the People's Republic of China stated that North Korea has Super-EMP warheads. Data from North Korea's nuclear tests are consistent with a Super-EMP warhead. http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/detail/a-north-korean-nuclear-pearl-harbor

"...U.S. missile defenses in Asia currently are at a heightened alert status as a result of tensions with North Korea. The communist state has threatened to conduct nuclear missile attacks on the United States and South Korea.

The incidents were detected by U.S. intelligence-gathering systems in the region and reported recently inside the Pentagon.

“As a matter of policy we do not comment on matters of intelligence,” Lt. Col. Catherine Wilkinson said when asked about the Backfire bomber incident.

The Tu-22 bomber can carry up to three air-launched Kh-22 land attack cruise missiles. The bomber has a range of about 2,500 miles..."
http://freebeacon.com/russian-bomber-roulette/

"After the election, I'll have more flexibility"
—Obama to Putin

"Readers of a certain age will recall the battles over missile defense that raged during the Reagan administration. Virtually all Democrats opposed all forms of missile defense, deeming the concept not only unfeasible–”like hitting a bullet with a bullet,” as though that were impossible–but destabilizing as well.

John Kerry’s denunciations of missile defense were typical: “a dream based on illusion, but one which could have real and terrible consequences,”

As recently as 2008, Barack Obama said that he didn’t “agree with a missile defense system” and promised to slash funding for development of such systems. He did, too."