North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his people must pursue economic improvement with the same urgency scientists put into the launch of a long-range rocket.

The UN Security Council condemned North Korea’s successful rocket launch today and said it will urgently consider “an appropriate response”.

THE North Korean capital of Pyongyang is emerging from a tough few months.

North Korea has tightened internal security and put troops on alert since the announcement of leader Kim Jong Il’s death, South Korean intelligence indicated today.

STRONG demand in north-east Asia has delivered a surge in Irish pork exports to the core markets of China, Hong Kong, Japan and Korea, according to the latest Bord Bia analysis.

The US said today that China and other key nations had agreed to condemn the attack on a South Korean warship and express “deep concern” over findings that North Korea was to blame.

South Korea officially referred North Korea to the UN Security Council today over the sinking of a navy ship that killed 46 sailors, taking its strongest step toward making the communist North face international punishment.

CHINA resisted pressure yesterday from South Korea and Japan to censure North Korea publicly for the sinking of a warship, calling only for regional tensions over the incident to be defused.

US PRESIDENT Barack Obama assailed North Korea for new missile tests, saying the world must “stand up to” Pyongyang and demand that it honour a promise to abandon it nuclear ambitions.

The United Nations Security Council was this evening holding an emergency meeting to consider further possible sanctions against North Korea, after the secretive Communist state conducted a second nuclear weapons test.

North Korea said today preparations to launch its controversial satellite were complete and lift-off was imminent.

THE leaders of North and South Korea yesterday pledged to seek a peace treaty to replace the Korean War’s 1953 ceasefire and expand projects to reduce tension across the world’s last Cold War frontier.

Leaders of North and South Korea pledged in a reconciliation pact today to finally seek a peace treaty to replace the Korean War’s 1953 cease-fire, and expand projects to reduce tension across the world’s last Cold War frontier.

Nagasaki marked the 62nd anniversary of the world’s second atomic bomb attack with a sombre ceremony today and calls for the elimination of nuclear weapons.

Regional powers applauded today’s announcement by North and South Korea that their leaders plan to meet later this month, saying it will help ease tensions and boost efforts to denuclearise the peninsula.

UN inspectors were travelling to North Korea’s key nuclear reactor today to discuss a long-delayed shutdown of the facility, as the country came under increasing international criticism for launching missile tests this week.

Russia and China have raised new objections that could delay a vote today on a UN Security Council resolution imposing severe sanctions on North Korea for its claimed nuclear test.

The US has circulated a new draft UN resolution on North Korea that adds a travel ban but softens language on cargo inspections and financial sanctions to try to get Russian and Chinese support.

The United States and South Korea detected a seismic event at a suspected nuclear test site in North Korea, the White House said today after North Korea claimed it had conducted an underground nuclear test.

South Korea today said it would “sternly respond” to North Korea’s alleged nuclear test, condemning it as a provocative act.

Japan said today it will push for a punitive UN resolution if North Korea conducts a nuclear test despite a Security Council warning, amid reports that Tokyo plans to step up its own economic sanctions against the reclusive communist regime.

North Korea has accused the United States of torpedoing six-party talks on its nuclear programme.

Reaction to North Korea’s demand for civilian reactors before dismantling its nuclear programme ranged from harsh to calm today, though none of the parties to international talks said they expected the negotiating process to break down.

Despite a thriving economic partnership, political ties between Japan and China are at their lowest ebb in years.

North Korea’s neighbours reacted cautiously today as the region awoke to news that the isolated communist country was ready to accept a US proposal for six-nation talks aimed at ending a stand-off over its nuclear weapons programmes.

North Korea today warned that Japan’s launch of spy satellites could trigger an arms race in north-east Asia.

THE United States is basing more heavy bombers near North Korea and will formally protest against the communist nation's "reckless actions" in using MiG fighters to intercept a US surveillance plane, officials said.

SOUTH KOREA'S Defence Ministry called for a stronger alliance with Washington, while North Korea stepped up its campaign yesterday to bring South Korea to its side in a standoff with the United States.