I usually go from not likely, to likely, to very likely to extremely likely. And i say this is very likely. The newly discovered image some experts believe finally proves the famous pilot may have survived after her plane went missing. This morning, an exclusive and fascinating first look. All that, plus can the pharma bro be silenced . Crash and controversy at the tour de france. And america celebrates the fourth in spectacular style. Today, july 5th, 2017. From nbc news, this is today, with matt lauer and savannah guthrie. Live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. And good morning, everyone. Welcome to today on a wednesday morning. And we welcome savannah back from a week of vacation. Have we met . Did you have a good fourth . We did. Had a great time off. Its awesome to be back. Its good to have you back. You come back on a very busy day. Theres a lot to get to. Just as President Trump departs on his second foreign trip since taking office, he is facing the biggest test of his presidency so far. Its the growing crisis with north korea. This morning, theres new launches, new video and a new threat coming from that rogue state. All of this ahead of his meeting with russian president Vladimir Putin. Weve got it all covered, beginning with Kristen Welker at the white house. Kristen, good morning to you. Reporter matt, good morning to you. President trump departed for poland earlier this morning and the stakes couldnt be higher. After north korea launched its most advanced nuclear test yet. U. S. Ambassador to the u. N. Nikki haley has requested an emergency u. N. Security council meeting. Thats expected to take place this afternoon. The white house now calling for the Global Community to take action. Overnight, a show of force. The pentagon releasing these images, showing the u. S. And south Korean Military firing missiles into the water off south korea. This, after pentagon officials confirmed that north korea successfully launched an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, which could potentially deliver a Nuclear Warhead to the United States. Late tuesday, secretary of state Rex Tillerson said the u. S. Strongly condemns the launch, calling it a new escalation of the threat, adding Global Action is required to stop a global threat. The North Koreans releasing new video of the launch overnight, along with pictures of kim jongun celebrating its success. The leader urging the nations scientists to quote, frequently send big and small gift packages to the yankees, an apparent desire to conduct more launches in an effort to taunt the u. S. In the fourth of july remarks, President Trump not mentioning the threat. May god bless our military. May god bless, forever, the United States of america. Reporter but behind the scenes, crisis meetings under way, with an eye towards china. Mr. Trump has tried to foster a strong relationship with president xi. Jinping with the hopes that china will intervene, even hosting president xi at his resort in maralago back in april. The relationship developed by president xi and myself, i think, is outstanding. Reporter but weeks ago after the death of american Otto Warmbier who was detained in north korea, the president seemed to lose hope, tweeting chinas efforts to pressure north korea have not worked out. Now, the president renewing his call to action. Tweeting that china should put a heavy move on its north korean ally. Mr. Trump talking tough himself last week. The year of strategic patience with the north korean regime has failed. Reporter all of it following this, before taking office trump tweeting back in january, north korea just stated that it is in the final stands of developing a Nuclear Weapon capable of reaching parts of the u. S. It wont happen. Now on his second foreign trip, the president will urge partners and allies, including china, japan, and south korea, to step up against the threat from north korea. But the options are limited. Sanctions are a possibility, or even moving some military assets into the region. The administration signaling military action is still a last resort. The bottom line is, it would be a catastrophic war if this turns into combat. Reporter the president s first stop overseas will be warsaw, poland, where leaders will look for mr. Trump to reaffirm his commitment to nato. Thats something he didnt do in strong terms during his first european trip. His next stop will be hamburg, germany, for the g20 summit. Thats where hell be able to press chinas president as well as the leaders of japan and south korea in person to get tougher on north korea. Matt, savannah . Kristen welker at the white house. Thanks. A lot at stake here. Lets bring in Nbc News National Security analyst jeremy barb. Good morning to you. Good morning, guys. Unfortunately americans have become somewhat accustomed to hearing about missile tests from north korea. But why is this one different . Why is this more significant . It flew for 40 minutes. So its 1700 miles up into space. If you flatten that out it means they could put a missile on americas doorstep. Putting it right within range of alaska. Even potentially hawaii. With a country that has 20 Nuclear Weapons worth of material, this represents a significant prove vags, savannah. Its the tenth missile test this year. By far its most significant and successful. Does it appear theyre making incredibly rapid progress . Or does it just seem like that from the casual observers point of view . No, it is extraordinary progress here in the last six months. Ten tests as you reference. They had a couple of failures. But they learn as much from their failures as their successes. The last big test was midmay. They flew the missile a similar distance. But just short of that critical 3,000 mile threshold. Once they cross 3,000 miles, they know they can range the United States. We just saw that the president had tweeted back in january, it wont happen. The north isnt going to be able to test a missile that could reach the u. S. And yet, it has happened. So what are the potential responses here . One thing they havent done yet, is they havent miniaturized a Nuclear Weapon and put it on top of an icbm. I think that would really cause the International Community and the United States to think about preemptive military actions. So we will try forceful diplomacy. We will try to rally allies at the g20 summit next week in europe. But we also have to consider much more punishing sanctions to really strangle the north korean regime. When the president tweets that he wants china and others to end this nonsense for all, i think kim jongun reads that as a threat, a threat to him and hes going to dig in and try to advance his Capabilities Even more. All new administrations are tested, jeremy. This, though, would have to be considered the most significant and severe International Crisis that this administration has faced. Absolutely. Because there are no good options. If we take preemptive military action, as we said many times before, weve got 38,000 troops on the korean peninsula. It would be a very devastating military conflict. Jeremy barb, to be continued. Thank you. Appreciate it. Thanks, guys. Along with north korea, President Trumps highly anticipated meeting with russian president Vladimir Putin will dominate headlines this week as the two get set to shake hands for the first time this friday. Nbcs keir simmons is in hamburg, germany, where the g20 summit will take place. Keir, good morning to you. Reporter good morning. President trump faces a tough trip here with uncomfortable conversations. As jeremy and kristen mentioned, north korea will come up when he meets with the chinese leader here. He does not see eyetoeye with the german chancellor who is hosting the g20. But all eyes will be on the meeting with president putin. A kremlin official telling me the details of that meeting on friday are up in the air. The most anticipated meeting of two World Leaders in years. On the agenda, the russians say, terrorism, ukraine, and one kremlin leader emphasizing, breaking the impasse in u. S. Russian relations. President trump and president putin have spoken by phone. And the men talk about each other often. President putin hailing mr. Trump as outstanding before the election. While mr. Trump, declaring putin a far better leader than president obama. Peten likes donald trump, i consider that an asset, not a liability. The allegations of russian intervention in the election have rocked the leaders early roman romance. Trump tweeting criticism, accusing president obama of doing nothing about russian meddling, and expressing the hope that things will work out between the usa and russia. Last month the russian president spoke with megyn kelly, and had this to say about his relationship with President Trump. Translator we didnt have any relationship at all. There was a time when he used to come to moscow. But you know, i never met with him. Reporter adding to the tension, hamburg is preparing for thousands of demonstrators. Already overnight, protests were met with riot police. And water cannons. Fear was a clash between the usa and russia perhaps in syria, will have many hoping for a constructive meeting. President putin will be prepared. President trump, the selfstyled arch negotiator. I love to negotiate things. I do it really well. All that stuff. But its possible i wont be able to get along with putin. Reporter the Power Dynamics as they shake hands for the first time, will be analyzed around the world. President trump will be hoping for cheering crowds when he touches down in poland late tonight. The poles and many european leaders will be pushing him to be tough on russia. Other items on the g20 agenda, free trade, Climate Change and migration. The question, will President Trump get through the next three days without a diplomatic confrontation . Matt . All right, keir, thank you very much. A new York City Police officer who was fighting for her life just hours ago has passed away this morning. She was shot in the head while sitting in a marked police vehicle. Nbcs ron allen is at saint barn bus hospital in the bronx with details. Ron, good morning. Reporter good morning, savannah. A very somber scene here outside the hospital. Through the night scores of nypd officers arriving as that officer, me societyous familia, a 12 year veteran, 48 years old, clinging to life before succumbing to her wounds. Shot in the head at pointblank range, while sitting in a marked police vehicle. Unprovoked attack. Thats how officials are describing the ambush where a female new York City Police officer was shot and killed by a man who opened fire on her and her partner while they were sitting in their parked nypd vehicle. Police say 48yearold Miosotis Familia was assigned to a mobile command post in the bronx when a suspect, alexander bonds, fired through the car windows. Striking familia in her head. An Anticrime Team chased the suspect, running on foot, catching him a block away from the scene. As they confronted him, he drew a revolver. The officers fired at him, killing him. Reporter new yorks mayor speaking out during a press conference overnight. Its such a painful reality. A female Police Officer attacked out of nowhere. She was on duty serving this city, protecting people. Doing what she believed in and doing the job she loves. Reporter now, weve just gotten a tweet in from the commissioner of the Police Department here saying, nypd p. O. Miosotis familiarle la has been assassinated in an unprovoked attack on cops designed to keep new yorkers safe. Keep her family in your prayers. Its all eerily reminiscent of an attack back in 2014 when two Police Officers were shot and killed while sitting in their Police Cruiser in brooklyn. In this case, the officer and the mobile command post had been in this neighborhood for several months because of gang activity. Now police are trying to learn everything they can about why this happened as they mourn the loss of one of their own. Matt, savannah . Our hearts go out to her family. Ron, thank you. We have an update on a story we told you about in march. The United States has lifted the ban on laptops and other electronic advises in the passenger cabin on u. S. Bound flights from dubai and istanbul. Thats according to emirates and turkish airlines. Last week the department of Homeland Security lifted the ban on Abu Dhabis Etihad airways. The bans were introduced in the spring after intelligence reports suggested isis was developing a bomb that could be hidden in the batteries that power portable electronics. A group of good sam air trans came to the aid of a truck driver after a dramatic crash in pennsylvania. It was caught on camera. Cell phone video showing the tractor trailer driving erratically on a highway in Delaware County on monday. The truck as you see was weaving back and forth before it crashed and overturned. Its contents spild all over the highway. Several people rushed in to help the driver. They smashed the windshield. He was taken to the hospital with nonlifethreatening injuries. The man who shot that video believes the driver probably fell asleep at the wheel. The accident is under investigation. Let us get back to the of july right now. From coast to coast americans celebrated the holiday with parades, hot dogs, and of course a lot of fireworks. Three, two, one. That was the scene here in new york city. This years macys 4th of july spectacular. Watched by some 3 million people. Millions more watched it on tv. More than 60,000 shells were used to light up the new york skyline. It was the biggest show in more than a decade. The fireworks are launched from five barges in the east river. Meantime in our Nations Capital can you top this . Hundreds of thousands of people jammed on to the National Mall to watch the 37th annual concert called a capital fourth. Before the fireworks got under way spectators were treated to a concert by the beach boys and the blues brothers. Lots of other people there. And apparently the weather was really nice for both of those events. Did you stay up for the fireworks . No. I didnt stay up for sunset. Exactly. I was in bed before the sun went down, too. Morning show people. Well watch it in the morning. And the fireworks woke me up. There you go. Good morning, did you have a good fourth though . I did. Me and calvin just kind of hung out all day. His first fireworks, that he didnt get to see. We have some heavy rain moving down into southern oklahoma, northeastern texas. This has been the case the last several mornings. We have a stalled front draped through this area that has been producing heavier downpours earlier this morning. Nothing all that severe. But still the heavy rain could make things a little bit slow. If youre traveling today along 44, along 70, 40,ing those are your roads that will feature most of the heavier rain. Again, heres this system. Slowly now starting to move to the east. So scattered showers and storms will fall down through kentucky into west virginia. Virginia, and north carolina. Again nothing too severe expected with this system. Some of these will start to make their way into the midatlantic by thursday night into early friday morning. We could see as much as two to three, even four inches of rain, especially back through arkansas. And there you see through the appalachians we could see some heavier pockets of rain, as well. Theres a second cold front, this ones moving through the midwest on thursday. And that has the better potential of producing some strong storms especially through wisconsin with large hail and damaging winds possible. Thats a look at the weather across the country. Your local forecast is coming up in the next 30 seconds. And we covered it, july first, twentyfifteen. Talk to farmers. We know a thing or two because weve seen a thing or two. We are farmers. Bumpadum, bumbumbumbum good morning. Im meteorologist kari hall. We take a live look outside in oakland. We see the cloudy skies and temperatures now at 58 degrees and also clouds over san jose. This will be clearing out within the next two to three hours and in San Francisco expect highs in the low 60s and well see some sunshine today up to 87 degrees for the inland areas. And thats your latest forecast. Dylan, thank you very much. Coming up, can the former executive dubbed the most hated man in america be silenced . Why congress is looking for a gag order against the pharma wr bro . Is this Amelia Earhart. We have neverbeforeseen photos. That story will have you talking. Absolutely. First this, is today on nbc. The radical new graduation requirement in one major u. S. City, forcing students to have a plan after high school or they will not graduate. Well see if that catches on. Miss kotb is here. The chowdown champs. The winners of the coney island hot dog eating contest. Why bee to the hive to the comb combing that honey. 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