UN Imposes New Sanctions on N. Korea

Unofficial envoy fears 'crisis'

(NEWSER) - Despite global fears of a violent confrontation, South Korea launched fighter jets and fired live artillery in a military exercise close to the North Korea border. But the two-hour operation ended without incident, and Pyongyang officials promised not to retaliate, reversing earlier threats of a "deadly" response. Residents of Yeonpyeong and other "front-line" islands had been ordered to move into air-raid shelters for the operation, but many fled the island attacked last month by North Korea. More»

UN sanctions will derail disarmament talks: Pyongyang

(NEWSER) - As the date of a promised “satellite launch” nears, North Korea has placed a long-range ballistic missile on the launch pad used for earlier test firings, Reuters reports. South Korea, Japan, and the US plan to seek UN sanctions if the nuclear power goes forward with what analysts believe will really be the test of a three-stage rocket that could reach as far as Alaska. More»

Both are isolated except for a superpower

(NEWSER) - Be careful, Israel, you're starting to look like "gulp—North Korea," writes Daniel W. Drezner. Israel may not be in similarly dire financial straits, but the parallels are "pretty eerie" beyond that, writes Drezner in Foreign Policy . Let us count the ways:

• "Both countries are diplomatically isolated except for their ties to a great power benefactor."

(AP) - Even as the UN considers sanctions against North Korea, Pyongyang may be prepping for its third nuclear test. The secretive regime conducted an underground explosion last month, its second since a 2006 atomic test. Though the move triggered international scorn, an anonymous US government official says it looks like the North is preparing yet another one. He provided no details, however. More»

US, Japan want to act, but China may block tough action

(NEWSER) - North Korea's surprise nuclear test this morning drew protests in the South and threats from world governments to punish the regime with further sanctions. Barack Obama and Gordon Brown both condemned the blasts, and France said it would discuss "strengthening sanctions" at today's emergency Security Council meeting. Even China, the key to any further action, said it was "resolutely opposed" to the test. More»