Around the World: 11/4

as the timeline for real what exactly happened. This week on Monday North Korea successfully exploded a nuclear device that they said it. Put this thing around the size of around ten killer tons that is just about half. Of the bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima. Monday's nuclear explosion followed up by the test firing of three missiles. And then yesterday North Korea fires -- two more missiles promised it from -- east -- coast launch pad. Today we got this military threat and the White House just issuing a brief statement characterizing North Korea's actions as you heard that Steve Centanni say quote -- And bluster and that's where we are this morning.

warhead that's what the intelligence -- call. The worst nightmare that's because North Korea has a missile arsenal capable of delivering a warhead. To just about any target within 4500 mile range. Experts though disagree on how close spirit of developing that warhead but it appears. It's in the works. Sort of North Korea war two.

does the Pentagon have. The US has almost 25000 forces stationed in South Korea that's in addition to 600000. South Korean troops. But North Korea can call on almost twice that number at a moment's notice. Joining us now is former deputy assistant secretary of defense. Currently a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation Peter good morning. Good morning Megan what you know let me ask about that White House statement do you agree that really just block the bluster by by North Korea .

if you look at it in the last four months North Korea has challenged the Obama administration more than they did over eight years of the George W Bush Administration. This is not good news they continue to use brinksmanship they continued provocations and it's been very very intense now certainly the Pentagon -- want to make things worse nor does the White House because things are very fragile right now but the fact of the matter is is that their policy is not going very well and I think we're increasingly at risk but the North Korea that might do something that could lead to some sort of real major conflagration.

it probably keep some for being more powerful than they are the North Korea spent about a third of its GDP which is small on the military it's a military state if they had more income

opened the segment by saying what options does the Pentagon -- North Korea goes off the rails and others say things like -- our viewers now here's a quote those who provoked us we'll face unimaginable merciless punishment. And we got a lot that we in South Korea are the ones sort out provoking in North Korea but that night that we're going to face unimaginable punishment now we can call it. Bluster as much as we want but obviously the Pentagon's got to consider. What to do if North Korea goes off the rails nobody trusts Kim Jong Il do they have -- what right and we do.

bad we need to be prepared we would win a war with South Korea with North Korea but it -- be very -- he remembers all the -- South -- within 25 miles of the DMZ they're about fifteen to twenty -- people who live there North Korea has tens of thousands of artillery tubes. Focused on active chemical weapons they have nuclear weapons now they have a large army

Our top military commander. In South Korea said that we did they are ready North Korea and US is ready for anything North Korea might throw at the -- South Korea or anyplace else but the fact it is is that you know we keep talking about this would keep talking about -- ready. Were -- we want to have talks but nothing has moved forward except. North Korea get testy -- weapons that has moved forward.

US and son -- forces are prepared for anything North Korea can throw at us. That according to general -- the top US military commander in South Korea . Now the world is watching the Korean Peninsula on the heels of report that the north Koreans dear leader Kim Jong Il may be dying of cancer. Moments ago former

That it Kissinger in paper on North Korea of course launched the long range -- so then they pulled out of the -- then they did the nuclear tests then

we have an expectation of success in negotiations with -- If -- North Korea -- to a religious. And under those conditions countries like Japan and -- studio. I'd like you did do the nuclear rude

good to do is not an issue Madrid the united -- to North Korea . Is an issue bid from been removed in North -- They have to be given a -- And they have to be

the day what's the bottom line the bottom line is that when North Korea is involved in negotiations. It's better behaved and we have less problems than when it's not in negotiations when it's outside the negotiations. That's when it starts throwing stones and nuclear test missile tests and the like when they have been engaged in negotiations actually. Are often productive they froze their reactor for a decade that during that decade they were not producing new nuclear material for nuclear weapons so. I think it's for the good frankly I think that's where we're going mrs. all atmospherics. For what I think it's probably a done deal which is expected north Koreans will return to the six party talks and that there will be direct US and between negotiations in parallel with that of course now we're dealing with the aftermath of this conflict between North Korea and South Korea -- what do you make what do you make of that. Well you know it could've been an accident but I sorted -- you know you wanna fight the tendency to always assume a master plan. But in this case I think it probably was deliberate. If it is deliberate when you should think of it as just another sort of thing that North Korea does often on the eve of negotiations. It will do something to try to create a crisis thinking that gives it leverage at the barking. Table. And I think if that's what they're trying to do -- our best response is not to overreact. But the state steady. And pursue our golf our goals -- nuclear free peninsula and stability in northeast Asia and I think we should just keep focused on that cannot be distracted by. The fireworks and is it your sense that South Korea will be equally measured in its actions. I think so I mean North Korea South Korean relations. I haven't been great -- last year or so but it's not the only unit that's been that particular we've had other incidents back in 1999. And in 2002. There -- naval incidents in which there were exchanges of gunfire and then a year after those exchanges. Suddenly you start to have agreements and progress toward some sort of stable outcome so. That's the that's what North Korea does that it creates a crisis on the eve of going into some sort negotiation that's the case here. Then ironically this

High alert on the Korean Peninsula today and it could have direct effects here in the United States. It's a complicated situation no doubt would try to break it down forty starting with a skirmishes C yesterday. That's when the North Korean and South Korean ships met up near a disputed maritime border that's west of the two countries. Both each side accused the other crossing the border. South Korea reports that its navy killed one North Korean sailor and nearly destroyed the north shift. Now the south says it's ready to respond to any provocation from the north. A few hours later we learned the Obama administration has decided to send Stephen Bosworth to North Korea as a special envoy. -- job there convince the leaders to return to six party negotiations. On North Korea's nuclear program. In other words talk the north Koreans in the talking. North Korea has been in and out of those negotiations for years now on it's been a two steps forward one step back situation