Implications of a Nuclear North Korea

S.Korea says no compromise against North's threats Reuters — South Korea will not back down to communist North Korea after it raised global concerns last week with a defiant nuclear test and threats to attack its capitalist neighbour, the South's president said on Saturday. The U.N. Security Council is looking to punish the reclusive North for its nuclear test which drew international condemnation, while a South Korean daily said U.S. officials are moving to clamp down on the impoverished state's meagre international finances. click to read complete article

U.S. to Defend South Korea Against Nuclear North, Yonhap Says Bloomberg — The U.S. has agreed to guarantee South Korea’s defense, in writing, against a nuclear-armed North, Yonhap News reported, citing South Korea’s foreign minister. The written guarantee will be provided on June 16 when South Korean President Lee Myung Bak meets with his U.S. counterpart in Washington, according to the report. The comment came as the minister, Yu Myung Hwan, explained the outcome of his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington, Yonhap said. click to read complete article

Alaskans concerned about North Korea's missiles Associated Press — Alaskans are concerned over the prospect that North Korea is getting ready to test a long-range missile that could reach strategic targets in their home state. And they're not buying Defense Secretary Robert Gates' assertion during a visit this past week to one of Alaska's many military installations that the missile is not a threat to the United States. click to read complete article