Latest breaking news on the North Korean nuclear issue

The North Korean southern border is only a 100 miles from the South Korean capital Seoul, one of the most advanced and wealthy metropoli in the world. A nuclear attack could wipe out Seoul, and much of South Korea, Japan, and China, and secondarily Asia and beyond. Poverty engenders desperation, and like Iraq, North Koreans are amongst the most poverty stricken in the world. When you have nothing to lose, people sometimes resort to violent actions. The difference is that while the people starve, North Korea has built up a massive army and defense capability, always knowing that this gave them the international clout and negotiating power that they could not assume though diplomacy and economic strength, particularly since the collapse of the USSR and the "gentrification" of China in recent years. North Korea is surrounded by economic powerhouses - either traditional and entrenched such as Japan and South Korea, and developing with enormous promise such as China.

South Korea has lived under the North Korean threat for several decades. The political temperature rises and falls fast and continually, despite recent efforts to improve communication both ways. Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that concerns have escalated in recent months, especially with the expulsion of IAEA inspectors and reflected in one way in international caution with the South Korean economy and investment.

North Korea would not be able to launch a nuclear attack against South Korea or Japan and China, without triggering a massive world war and devastating the region physically and economically. Yet they still wield a big stick and sometimes don't talk that softly. North Korea is a far greater threat to world security than Iraq or Iran, yet we hear far more of the former from the US.

This page tracks the latest news and developments on the North Korean situation