article_snippet.sent: Washington and Seoul have tended to have a policy that leans toward downplaying North Korean threats, at least when there isn't a full-fledged crisis going on.
article_snippet.sent: For example, the United States downplayed North Korea missile threat until North Korea successfully put a satellite into orbit in December 2012.
article_snippet.sent: These new estimates could therefore be a timely reminder that we may have downplayed the threat North Korea poses once again.
highlights_snippet.sent: Washington has tended to downplay North Korean threats .