TAPPER: In our world lead, a short while ago the Pentagon confirmed North Korea launched another intercontinental ballistic missile, making it the second launch this month. One official tells CNN that an intelligence assessment predicts that the Kim Jong-un regime may just be months away from launching a reliable, nuclear-capable ICBM. Let's bring in Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr. And Barbara, as if two ICBMs within a month weren't bad enough, today's missile might be more advanced than the previous one launched on the 4th of July?</s>BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: It may be. That's the scenario they're looking at right now, Jake. Nothing confirmed by the Pentagon yet. Governments in the region are saying it's more advances. Why are they saying this? Because this new nuclear launch missile flew for about 45 minutes. And to fly that long, it would have gone a further distance than the one that was launched in earlier July. So it flew longer, it had more air time, it went for further distance. It's suggested it possibly went higher. This one flew into the East Sea, the Sea of Japan, dropping about 600 miles out but only 80 miles off the coast of Japan -- Jake.</s>TAPPER: And, Barbara, Kim Jong-un has been in power for six years. He's already conducted almost two times as many missile tests as his father did. Is there any intelligence into how North Korea is propelling its weapons program?</s>STARR: Well, there is a lot of international gossip about it, I'll tell you that much. There is concern that rogue regimes out there, even potential Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan, we're not saying anybody is because there's no proof of it. But these are the countries that you hear experts talking about and be concerned about that, over the years, over time, some elements inside some of these governments may have helped North Korea.</s>TAPPER: All right, Barbara Starr at the Pentagon for us. Thank you. It's sitting on his desk, just waiting for his signature. Congress sent President Trump the Russia sanctions bill to be signed. Russia is not waiting for him to sign it. It is already lashing out. Stay with us.
North Korea Nuclear Fears; Pentagon Confirms North Korea Launched Second ICBM