Free Republic

Rare talks between military leaders from North and South Korea have got off to an unusual start with one of the North Korean generals recalling an internet joke about the US president. Tuesday's meeting at the border village of Panmunjom was intended to discuss the restoration of rail links after more than half a century. Both sides had previously agreed to a test-run across the heavily-fortified border on May 17th, but the North's military must first give its consent. "Have you heard the one about..." Kim Young-chol, left, gets things off to a light-hearted start

Mr Keating said . . . "My great concern is that Japan may use the impasse of North Korea and this testing of its nuclear weapons to move into nuclear weapons itself, eschewing the nuclear protection provided to it by the United States under its umbrella," he told a business breakfast.

Weather improving for N. Korea missile test, sources say Possible U.S. interception plan spelled out From Barbara Starr CNN Friday, June 23, 2006; Posted: 2:51 p.m. EDT (18:51 GMT) WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Weather conditions would be favorable for North Korea to test its long-range ballistic missile this weekend, several military sources said Friday. The sources, who are not authorized to speak publicly, also said U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has signed an order that spells out how the United States would launch an interceptor missile if the North Korean missile appeared to be on a trajectory toward any U.S. territory...