Katie Couric's Notebook: North Korea

By: Katie Couric
Topics: Katie Couric's Notebook

(CBS/AP)

North and South Korea declared a ceasefire back in 1953, but relations have been anything but peaceful during the past 56 years.

Today, the rhetoric is heating up as North Korea threatens to attack South Korean ships if they get too close.

Needless to say, it's been a bad week for the Korean peninsula.

Kim Jong Il's regime flaunted a test fire of a supposed nuclear bomb on Monday, and has tested several missiles since. It's a pyrotechnic display that no one finds entertaining.

But the question is: How will the U.S. and the U.N. punish North Korea? More sanctions? More invitations to six-party talks? We've all seen that movie before.

The Obama administration and its international partners face a daunting challenge. They have to make it clear that this behavior will not be tolerated while trying to cool the red-hot tempers in the Yellow Sea before a test fire escalates into the real thing.

That's a page from my notebook.

4 Comments Have Your Say
Email Story Send to a Friend
Share This Tell Your Friends
Tweet This Tweet This
More Share It

Add a Comment


by petersemkiw May 28, 2009 5:00 PM EDT: Let's hope for a Failure to Launch.; Reply to this comment


by petersemkiw May 28, 2009 4:38 PM EDT: North Korea will not find security and respect through threats and illegal weapons. We will work with our friends and allies to stand up to this behavior and we will redouble our efforts toward a more robust international non-proliferation regime that all countries have responsibilities to meet.

President Barack Obama; Reply to this comment


by casey_abbott May 28, 2009 11:30 AM EDT: I'm in unchartered waters here.; Reply to this comment


by Sheri_G May 28, 2009 7:26 AM EDT: Why was there nothing mentioned on your program last night about these threats? The American people would appreciate ALL the news not your filtered info.; Reply to this comment