North Korea threat & immigration, guns in Congress

There have been lots of rumblings this week that there might be real action coming from the Senate on immigration reform. There were also rumblings of inaction - or delay, at least - on gun control when Senate Aides indicated debate on the Senate's gun control bill will probably slip back to the week after next.

We're going to have New York Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer and Arizona Republican Senator John McCain on the show Sunday to give us the latest on these looming issues. They're both members of the so-called Gang of Eight that's trying to craft a bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bill. From what I'm hearing and seeing, I can't really tell where they are in the process: one day we hear, well, we've virtually got it done on immigration. Then the next day someone else says, well we're close but there's one little detail holding them up. 

Where are they, really? There are lots of little details to keep track of on this issue - from the definition of a secure border to guest worker numbers and more. I'll try to get a sense of where both these Senators stand on key provisions, and where they think this whole thing will go.

I'll also ask them about guns. Does Sen. Schumer think his party can get the votes? Will there be Republican support for any of the provisions? I'm anxious to see what they have to tell me.

One thing I can tell you for sure: It's good they're back in town, at least.

And of course, when it's another week, there's another batch of questions about whether or not the Senate and Congress can pass a budget. Somehow or the other I think they're going to come to some kind of an agreement by the end of the year. But what it's going to look like? Who knows. This thing has gotten so far out of hand it's hard to tell. I'll probably ask them about that, too.

One thing that's really looming, and isn't really a partisan issue, is what's happening in North Korea. We've got this young leader over there essentially declaring war on South Korea. You always get a bit of bluster from North Korean leaders, but is this something more than bluster? It certainly feels like it. I've been talking about the situation with a lot of people in Washington, and they say they're taking this threat very, very seriously.

I'll talk to former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright about the threat, and what the U.S. needs to do about it. She served as the Secretary of State under President Bill Clinton and was actually the first U.S. Secretary of State to visit North Korea back in the 90's.

Then I'll turn to a very smart panel to talk about this North Korea issue some more. Foreign Policy Magazine and The Economist writer Blaine Harden, who wrote the book Escape from Camp 14, which tells the story of the only person born in a North Korean prison camp to escape to the West joins me. As does The Wall Street Journal's Washington Bureau Chief Gerry Seib, CBS News Chief White House Correspondent Major Garrett and CBS News Congressional Correspondent Nancy Cordes. I'm sure we'll touch on the budget, immigration and guns, too. Plus, I'll get the very latest on the situation in North Korea from our State Department Correspondent Margaret Brennan, who will be reporting from the capital of South Korea.

It's a lot, but it's "Face the Nation." Check your local listings so you don't miss a minute.