Korea fires warning shots after North Korean object seen

Media reported that it was a drone.

 The two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the USA are the six parties to a diplomatic process over North Korea that has been suspended since late 2008, when the North announced its intention to restart its nuclear weapons programme.

Following the warning shots, however, it immediately returned across the border into North Korea, a ministry spokesman said. It did not say whether the South Koreans hit the object.

The US House measure prohibits the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, arms-related materials, luxury goods, and counterfeit goods, and it also mandates sanctions against any individual or entity that materially contributes to North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile development or provides training on weapons programs.

During her news conference Park credited South Korea’s close military alliance with the United States for generating a strong deterrence and enhancing military readiness to defend against possible North Korean provocations.

The U.N. Security Council has drafted a new sanctions resolution against North Korea after the communist country claimed it successfully carried out its first hydrogen bomb test.

There is widespread scepticism over the H-bomb claim, but whatever the North detonated underground is likely to push the country closer towards a fully functional nuclear arsenal, which it still is not thought to have.

“That’s why I was shocked that the president made no mention of North Korea’s recent nuclear test during his speech”. While Park talked to U.S. President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in separate phone calls on January 7, 2016, one day after the North’s nuclear test, no dialogue between Park and Chinese President Xi had taken place as of Wednesday.

SEOUL – South Korean shares spiked 1.34 percent Wednesday as investor sentiment got a boost from China’s stock gains.

Iran has fulfilled most of what it signed on to, and where it has not, the U.S. and the other Western powers have given clear signs that they will look the other way.

 Tensions along the heavily-fortified border between North and South Korea rose further on Wednesday.

The U.S. forces flew a B-52 strategic bomber over South Korea.

Ms Park said South Korea would also continue its controversial propaganda broadcasts over the border.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye addresses to the nation at the Presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016.

But North Korea now has no real access to USA banks and its leadership has survived worldwide sanctions for years.

That approach is now under scrutiny as Ms. Park seeks strong penalties against North Korea. “We will make all efforts to pass a resolution for sanctioning North Korea internationally so that it will bring changes to North Korea’s attitude”.

Similar North Korea-sent propaganda leaflets were discovered on a South Korea border island between late 2013 and early 2014. The Defense Ministry believes the leaflets were floated over with balloons by the North’s military.