Student as new details e merge about the disturbing websites found on his phone, but the victims family is holding out hope. All that, plus Venus Williams gets emotional at wimbledon. The creator of the ice bucket challenge puts the rumors to rest and falling flat. Pa passengers aboard a hot air balloon get an unexpected ending to their joyride, today, july 4th, 2017. This is today qwest with matt lauer and savannah guthrie, live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. Good morning, welcome to today on this Independence Day morning. Well help celebrate americas 241st birthday with some members of the band here. This is the United States ceremonial brass out on the plaza and theyll be joining us throughout the course of the morning. Busy morning. We begin with breaking news overnight. North korea says it successfully test launched an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile. Beginning with nbcs keir simmons in london. Good morning. Chanel, good morning. Defense officials tell nbc that they are assessing the missiles. Ear early the launch is one of a string of tests this year and comes days before leaders from a group of 20 nations are due to discuss steps to rein in north koreas weapons programs. Overnight, north korea announcing it conducted yet another missile test, claiming for the first time it has successfully tested an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, icbm which could potentially have the range to reach the United States. Overseen by leader kim jongun, Officials Say the missile test was fired from the countrys Western Region and tracked for 37 minutes before landing in the sea of japan. The launch comes after a string of recent tests and amid steadily escalating tensions between north korea and the United States. President trump calling out the north korean leader, condemning the missile test on twitter. North korea has Just Launched another missile. Does this guy have anything better to do with his life . Hard to believe that south korea and japan will put up with this muchs china will put a heavy move on north korea and end this nonsense once and for all. National security adviser h. R. Mcmaster calling a Nuclear Armed north korea the numberone threat to the u. S. We have to prepare all options because the president has made clear to us that he will not accept a Nuclear Power in north korea and a threat that can target the United States and target the american population. Reporter it is unlikely but not unprecedented for the u. S. To change t assessment of the type of missile tested by north korea. Asking if it could be an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile as north korea claims, one official says its possible. Well talk about that. Keir, thank you. Lets bring in jeremy bash. Nbc News National security analyst. Good morning to you. Good morning, guys. This is the 11th time that theyve conducted a missile test since donald trump became president. Theyre doing it more frequently now. This appears to be the longest of the tests so far. What can we make of the timing and north korea being a global threat . Lets break there down. This missile traveled only 578 miles, but it launched high into the air. It flew about 40 minutes. If you extend out that range, it could hit alaska and maybe the outer reaches of hawaii. While the label Intercontinental Ballistic Missile is not as important as the range, what is showcases is this is a significant escalation. The regime of kim jongun is heavily isolated from the world. And despite threats and tough talk from the Trump Administration, at this point, nothing seems to be working. What can they do to reel this in . Its very difficult. And north korea seems undeterred by President Trumps rhetoric. They seem undeterred by chinas diplomacy. The options on the table for america are very limited. And one of the things i think the Trump Administration is weighing is preemptive military action. If they see another Missile Launched on a launchpad or on the back of a vehicle, the Trump Administration will have to decide whether to strike that preemptively. Of course, that could spark a wider war on the korean peninsula. You mentioned china. Reportedly President Trump called the president of china, president xi, expressed his frustration that the chinese have not done more. Have we overstated chinas willingness and or ability to rein in north korea . Its our only hope, craig. Thats the point in the region. We dont have many good options. And all of the options usually lead to putting more pressure on china, to put pressure on their partner in the region, north korea. They control that border. We need to leverage that diplomacy. Its significant because last month donald trump said the diplomacy has not worked. In statements on friday with the south korean president , he said effectively diplomacy is over. I think thats what triggered the Missile Launches. People are concerned with the apparent advancement of technology, justice u. S. The timeline on all this. They have been testing missiles since the mid2000s. Theyve been Testing Nuclear weapons since 2006. Five nuclear tests. But they have not put a Nuclear Warhead on top of a missile. They do not have the ability to hit the United States with a nuclear weapon. But this Missile Launch shows they can potentially range alaska, hawaii and eventually the west coast of the United States. G20 leaders. Japan will be there, china, the United States. This will be the topic of conversation. From an international perspective, what are the options for the International Community . I think the biggest option here is sanctioning. Sanctioning those entities to do business with north korea to cut off their lifeline. Short of that, were talking about preemptive military action, which nobody wants. Thank you. President trump back at the white house where he will be spending his first fourth of july as commander in chief. But hes looking ahead to the highlyanticipated facetoface meeting with russias president Vladimir Putin, in germany. Chief White House CorrespondentHallie Jackson has more on that. Hallie, good morning. Reporter good morning to you. And plenty to talk about on the foreign front in morning. Its not just that meeting with chinese president xi, you and jeremy talked about later this week, where north korea will be at the top of the agenda. Thats a crucial facetoface. But its not the most highprotile one. That will come from Vladimir Putin just a few days from now. Trump, ready to celebrate Independence Day back home at the white house with fireworks already. Taking aim at the Fake News Media and taking credit for strong wall street numbers. But the real show happens later this week, at the g20 summit in germany. Thats where President Trump for the first time will talk facetoface with Vladimir Putin, in what russian officials acknowledge is a crucial meeting, highly anticipated. Right now, were not getting along with russia at all. We may at an alltime low. Reporter just a year ago were going to have a great relationship with putin and russia. Reporter its a relationship thats, well, complicated. Critics calling for a tougher tone after moscow meddled in the 2016 election, something that the kremlin has denied. Its not clear if President Trump will bring that up with putin. They plan to bring up syria, ukraine and isis. Russian officials also warn moscow is losing patience with the u. S. Over the diplomatic compounds here, shut down after russias election interference. Both sides are working out timing, length and format of the sideline meeting of the two leaders. The russian president last month with megyn kelly. Translator did we have a special relationship with him . We didnt have a relationship at all. There was a time when he dime moscow, but i didnt meet with him. Reporter putin complimented candidate trump on the campaign trial, calling him bright and colorful. Putin says very nice things about me. I think thats very nice. It has no effect on me, other than i think its very nice. Reporter now a critical test for the president facing a veteran diplomat. And this morning, some reports out of russia say that president ial sit down will happen friday. President trump at the g20 is set to meet with european leaders. Were hearing hints it may get uncomfortable. German chancellor Angela Merkel says she does not plan to shy away from potentially difficult differences like topics of climate and trade. Craig . Hallie jackson, thank you. Now, to a deal reached late last night in a new jersey budget standoff. The states parks will reopen after the holiday, but it may be too late for governor Chris Christie who became the target of widespread ridicule after being photographed lounging on a beach that was closed as part of a government shutdown. We have more. Good morning to you. Reporter governor christie is pushing back hard at his critics. In a remarkable press conference after the shutdown ended, the governor insisted that his time at the beach was about keeping a family commitment. Thats our residence. We have a right to be there when we want to be there. Reporter governor Chris Christie dismissing a torrent of criticism after these images hit the pages of new jerseys largest newspaper. The Christie Family enjoying the beach at an official residence, the beach thats part of a state park, ordered closed to everyone else because of a threeday government shutdown. The picture dominated the days news. Mocking the oncepopular governor in his final months. Poll numbers at record lows. I dont apologize for it. I dont back away from it. And i think my poll numbers show that i dont care about political optics. What i care about is doing whats right and wrong. Reporter with the government in gridlock and many of the states popular recreation areas closed this Holiday Weekend, some residents didnt like upending their family plans while the governor kept theirs. The kids are excited. We have to turn back home. I think hes very arrogant. And he doesnt care about anybody but himself. Reporter even christies lieutenant governor, running for his job, has turned on him. I certainly wouldnt be on the beach at a park that was closed. As i said before, its beyond words. Its incentive. Reporter social media unrelenting. With star wars. With forrest gump. At the white house. Christie said only 11 miles of state beach was closed, 119 miles open. Insisting he wouldnt change a thing. When i get done tonight, ill go back to the beach. Thats where my family is. Reporter christie has just six months left in office. Once a president ial contender and confidant of President Trump, not shying away from a fight as he heads out the door. Everything is open for the fourth. Well take it, ron. A taxi driver jumped a curve. That taxi driver struck a group of pedestrians near bostons airport. He has not been charged. Bystanders were hurt in the crash. None of the injuries are lifethreatening. The 56yearold driver said his car accelerated and his brake wouldnt work. But police say it looks like the driver hit the wrong pedal. An investigation is under way. Now, to a frightening hot air balloon ride near disneyland that ended with a splash. All right, folks, were going to get little wet. Sorry about that. 17 people were on board when the balloon crashlanded in an alligatorinfested pond. The pilot blamed shifting winds that prevented him from hitting his targeted landing spot. At one point, the basket tipped over and water started pouring in. One child was treated at the hospital and later released. Thankfully, no one else was injured. New developments this morning on the health of the man who inspired the ice bucket challenge, pete frates. Sadly, he is back in the hospital. Youll remember him from when he inspired millions of people to dump icecold water on their heads to raise money and awareness for a. L. S. Pete frates poking fun of rumors on his death on twitter. Listening to pearl jams hit alive. The tongueincheek video in response to a false report that frates had died after his battle with als, also known as lou gehrigs disease, that destroys the bodys motor functions. An apology to the family. Frates family said, pete is resting comfortably at massachusetts general hospital, as the doctors, medicine, prayers and love continue to help him get stronger. Frates inspired people around the world with the ice bucket challenge in 2014. From celebrities like ben affleck, Martha Stewart two, one. Reporter and kermit the frog. To athletes. Here we go. Reporter and who can forget when savannah doused matt with that bucket of ice . [ cheers ] is my hair messed up . Reporter it all made a huge viral splash. More than 17 Million People posted videos online, raising 220 million for a. L. S. Research and treatment. Back in 2014, nbc talks with frates and his wife, julie. A. L. S. Is all we talk about really. But to see other people talking about it, its like mindblowing. All these people are paying attention to something important to us. Reporter the former Boston College baseball star was diagnosed in 2012 at the age of 27. Now even though hes unable to speak, his spirit still shines. Thoughts and prayers and wellwishes with pete this morning. More than 200 million he helped raise, but the awareness one can argue that was more special. Can you put a number on that . All right, lets get a first check of the weather. Dylan is in for al this morning. The weather is pretty nice. We have a couple of spotty showers and storms. A line of rain moving through texas. That will continue to move to the south and east. We have a few spotty showers moving into southwestern arkansas. And moving in through eastern tennessee. Right in through here, we had a strong storm through dallas. Youll see the rain continue shortly and continue to the south and east. Theres a stalled front. And along the front well see scattered showers and thunderstorms. Not looking at Severe Weather today. Well see downpours and the lightning, its something to keep an eye out for. Look for those dark clouds if youre out and about this afternoon. And then those will continue to move up into the midwest as we go into wednesday evening. Nothing too extreme expected. If youre traveling today or even spending the day outside, we will see our best chance of heavier rain through eastern oklahoma, into southwestern missouri and into northwestern arkansas. Scattered showers and storms through virginia and into the carolinas, too. And tomorrow, some of the rain will move along to virginia and out towards st. Louis, we could see rain, as well. Thats a look at the weather across the country. Your local forecast is coming up in the next 30 seconds. Farmersn almost everything, so we know how to cover almost anything. Even a coupe soup. [woman] so beautiful. [man] beautiful just like you. [woman] oh, why thank you. [burke] and we covered it, november sixth, twothousandnine. Talk to farmers. We know a thing or two because weve seen a thing or two. We are farmers. Bumpadum, bumbumbumbum happy fourth of july. Im meteorologist kari hall. Youre seeing the sunshine over the south bay. And were getting ready for the parade at 10 00 this morning. Temperatures in the low 70s and then rising into the mid80s as we go into this afternoon. All of that warm weather pour the interior area. And looking at fremont we will see downtown fremont the parade happening this morning as well. Our temperatures reaching into the low 80s there and all clear away from the bay. And thats your latest forecast. Dylan, thank you. Coming up, the sur geurgenth for a missing student. And Venus Williams breaks down on the first day of the tournament. Addressing our involvement in a recent fatal car accident. What she had to say about that. But first, this is today on nbc. [brother] any last words . [boy] karma, danny. Karma [vo] progress is seizing the moment. Your summer moment awaits you, now that the summer of audi sales event is here. Audi will cover your first months lease payment on select models during the summer of audi sales event. Just ahead, when wipeouts go way wrong. You may be surprised how many water sports adventures ended a trip to the e. R. We have timely warnings from jeff from our crazy delicious family to yours. For color this bold are you ready. And hair this nourished . Garnier nutrisse ultra color with avocado, olive and shea oils. It nourishes hair to boost color. From dull brown to our bluest black. Nutrisse ultra color. Nourished hair. Bolder color. The best way to get together is with a treat you make together. sharon suction out your shane dont use spray paint. Cpr is not mouth to mouth. Its mouth to stoma. shawn be very careful shaving. announcer you can quit. For free help, call 1800quitnow. Enamel is the white, outer layer of your tooth surface. The more that we can strengthen and reharden that tooth surface, the whiter their patients teeth are going to be. Dentists are going to really want to recommend the new pronamel strong and bright. Its going to give their patients whiter teeth. Did a