Keep in mind Obama wants to scrap missile defense.
And it's for this reason that the US will not intercept the NK missile...something well within our capability.
The POLITICAL implications track down two distinct lines:
1. NK would probably escalate and that scares the hell out of Obama and his national security staff. They DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
2. IF the US were to shoot down a NK missile there is NO WAY he would be able to scrap the system politically. "What do you MEAN it doesn't work?
The BEST outcome would be for the Japanese to shoot it down...exposing Obama as a neophyte pussy, signaling US technical competence and the REALITY of a reliable missile defense...AND putting the NKs on notice that they have some tough nuts to crack.
If Japan shoots down this missile, China will put NK back on the leash...COUNT ON IT.