From the New York Times, I'm Michael Barbaro. This is the Daily.

Today, the US recently noticed something unusual in North Korea's weapons program.

Its missiles started to work.

That alarming development has been well documented.

What hasn't is why.

It's Thursday, August 24th.

What a crowd.

At his rally in Phoenix, on Tuesday, President Trump defended his tough talk towards North Korea,

his threat of fire and fury, and suggested it may be getting through.

And you see what's going on in North Korea. All of a sudden, I don't know. Who knows?

But I can tell you what I said. That's not strong enough. Some people said it was too strong. It's not strong enough.

But Kim Jong Un, I respect the fact that I believe he is starting to respect us.

I respect that fact very much. Respect that fact.

And maybe, probably not. But maybe something positive can come about.

The following day, Wednesday, North Korea announced it was ramping up production of long-range missiles.

So, just in this hour of happening now, North Korean state media releasing new images,

showing Kim Jong Un inspecting what maybe new missiles.

The report of Kim's visit to a chemical material institute came after US Secretary of State's directs-tillison appeared to make a piece over-tour to Pyeongyang,

welcoming what he called the restraint it had shown recently in terms of military actions.

Bill Brott, can you describe the advances in North Korea's missile technology over the past year or so?

Well, it's been dramatic. For decades, we saw missiles blowing up right and left and spiraling out of control and crashing into the sea over and over.

The missile apparently flew for two to three seconds before it exploded. A US defensive missile.

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