Why North Korea is So Crazy

North Korea’s rocket launch of April 5, the U.N. Security Council vote to condemn the launch and strengthen sanctions, and the North’s decision of April 14 to pull out of the six-party talks have thrown a monkey wrench into prospects for a negotiated resolution of Pyongyang’s nuclear-weapon and missile programs. On the surface it appears that North Korea is again embarked on a threatening course; it has vowed to continue work on its contested weapons programs

Share

N. Korea seen as using bargaining chips

North Korea’s announcement last week that it has begun reprocessing nuclear fuel rods at the Yongbyon nuclear facility about 60 miles (nearly 100 kilometers) north of the capitol, Pyongyang, raises questions about the secretive nation’s agenda. CNN talked to two top North Korea experts to gain insights into what North Korea may be signaling, what it is realistically capable of accomplishing, and what the developments mean for its relations with the U.S

Share

Gorbachev, Shultz, Nunn, Perry Urge a Nuclear-Free World

President Obama’s call for a “world without nuclear weapons,” and his agreement with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev to work towards just that, have helped revive an issue that slipped off the foreign-policy agenda following the end of the Cold War two decades ago. But nuclear disarmament hasn’t been completely forgotten in recent years. In 2007, four diplomatic heavyweights — former U.S

Share

Report: Reporters to be tried in N. Korea

North Korea has concluded an investigation of two detained American journalists, and they will stand trial, according to the nation’s state-run news service, KCNA. “A competent organ of (North Korea) concluded the investigation into the journalists of the United States,” the news service reported Friday. “The organ formally decided to refer them to a trial on the basis of the confirmed crimes committed by them.” The two journalists, Laura Ling and Euna Lee, entered the country illegally and intended “hostile acts,” according to KCNA last month.

Share

Somalia parliament votes in Sharia law

Somalia’s transitional federal parliament has unanimously backed the introduction of Islamic Sharia law in the country after a vote over the issue was brought to parliamentarians Saturday. In an announcement on state-run television, the country said it was ready to step up efforts to develop nuclear weapons and poised for a military response to any moves against it. “The revolutionary armed forces of the DPRK are always keeping themselves fully ready to go into action any moment to mercilessly punish anyone who encroaches upon the sovereignty and dignity of the DPRK even a bit,” it said

Share