North Korea May Test 2nd Nuke

Things are really heating up in the Korean peninsula, and two stories demonstrate the troubles that are coming:

South Korea is "aware" of fresh signs that North Korea may be preparing for a second nuclear weapon test and has strengthened its intelligence-sharing with the United States, Yonhap News quoted a government official as saying Tuesday.

The unidentified official, in the wake of media reports U.S. spy satellites have detected suspicious activity at North Korean sites that could be preparations for another test, said, "We are preparing for uncertainties but are very cautious in analyzing North Korea- related intelligence."

He said the detected activity could be simply part of military activities unrelated to a nuclear bomb test.

The first test has now been shown to be nuclear, but may have been a "fizzle", or incomplete explosion. That could have been embarrassing to the Koreans and they may feel a second test is required to see if they can get it right.

The sanctions approved by the UN have not gone over well in the north:

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - North Korea on Tuesday blasted U.N. sanctions aimed at punishing the country for its nuclear test, saying the measures amount to a declaration of war and that the nation wouldn't cave in to such pressure now that it's a nuclear weapons power.

The bellicose remarks - the central government's first response to the U.N. measures imposed last weekend - came as China warned the North against stoking tensions and the American nuclear envoy arrived in South Korea for talks.

The North broke two days of silence about the U.N. resolution adopted after its Oct. 9 nuclear test, issuing a Foreign Ministry statement on its official Korean Central News Agency.

"The resolution cannot be construed otherwise than a declaration of a war" against the North, also known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The North warned it "wants peace but is not afraid of war" and that it would "deal merciless blows" against anyone who violates its sovereignty.

If North Korea considers itself at war with the rest of the world, what will the sane nations do the next time a pending missile launch is detected in North Korea? Do we dare allow a missile test to take place what with the risk that the missile could be armed and targeted at the a major city in the West? I don't think we'll be able to take that chance.