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Several officials speculated that the test, if it occurred, could be intended to influence the presidential election, though a senior military official said while "an election surprise" could be the motive, "I'm not sure what that would buy them."
And, we remember how the steely-eyed rocket man responded to questions about North Korea early. What a steadfast foreign policy he has!
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Bush took issue with Kerry's argument, in an interview at the end of May with The New York Times, that the administration's focus on Iraq had given North Korea the opportunity to significantly expand its nuclear capability. Showing none of the alarm about North Korea's growing arsenal that he once voiced regularly about Iraq, he opened his palms and shrugged when an interviewer noted that new intelligence reports indicate that North Korea may now have the fuel to produce six or eight nuclear weapons.
He said that in North Korea's case, and in Iran's, he would not be rushed to set deadlines for the countries to disarm, despite his past declaration that he would not "tolerate" nuclear capability in either nation.
"I don't think you give time lines to dictators," he said. He said he would continue diplomatic pressure - using China to pressure North Korea and Europe to pressure Iran - and gave no hint that his patience was limited or that at some point he might consider pre-emptive military action.
"I'm confident that over time this will work - I certainly hope it does," he said of the diplomatic approach.