What's going on in North Korea?

North Korea tests nuclear bomb again with more than a fizzle. China is put in tough spot. [Link]

It has been decades since American bombs rocked Dandong, the main crossing on the 800-mile Chinese-North Korean border. But this week another explosion shook China and the new threat is from its old ally. North Korea's nuclear test has raised tensions throughout the region – and increased pressure on China to rein in its neighbour.

China provides as much as 90% of the North's energy and 40% of its food. Like Russia, it has used its security council veto against attempts to isolate Pyongyang. Without its support, its poor neighbour would struggle to survive.

But now it appears that the North may be exhausting Beijing's patience. This week's nuclear and missile tests, last month's rocket launch, increasing threats and the suspected restarting of the Yongbyon nuclear plant have reignited debate about how best to deal with a troublesome neighbour.

Beijing was swift to slap down the nuclear test in a rare act of public criticism and the US appears hopeful that it will sign a security council resolution toughening existing sanctions – agreed in 2006, but only loosely enforced

"This time, North Korea has gone too far," said Zhang Liangui, a Korea expert at Beijing's Central Party School, which trains Communist party officials. "What they have done has hurt its relationship with China."

How much of this is posturing by China, to see how Obama will react?

North Korea withdraws from Armistice, says program to search their ships for WMDs is act of war. [Link]

Via AP:

North Korea warned South Korea and the United States on Wednesday that Seoul's participation in a U.S.-led program to intercept ships suspected of carrying weapons of mass destruction is equal to a declaration of war.

South Korea announced its participation in the U.S.-led program on Tuesday, one day after North Korea defiantly conducted a nuclear test, drawing international criticism.

The North's military said in a statement that it will respond with "immediate, strong military measures" against any attempt to stop and search North Korean ships under the Proliferation Security Initiative.

Testing, testing from Bookworm Room

"N. Korea says it is no longer bound to the armistice which ended the war and says the peninsula will soon be returned to the state of war."

Not quite 3 a.m. in the White House, but close enough, right? The only thing I know with pretty perfect certainty right now is that BHO has absolutely no idea what to do. Let's hope (a) his advisers have some plans and (b) he picks a good plan from the options presented to him.

We're sending some hardware to bolster the South. [Link]

On Tuesday, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency — the Pentagon arm that manages foreign military sales — made public plans to sell the South Koreans more surface-to-air missiles and upgrade its F-16 fighters so they can drop Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) smart bombs.

The proposed upgrade of 35 F-16s, the agency said, would allow the Republic of Korea Air Force “to adequately operate the F-16 weapon system to its fullest and utmost capability in both a deterrent role and a coalition role with United States Forces Korea and the Combined Forces Command.”

In other words, it will allow South Korean F-16s to hit artillery and anti-aircraft systems that are often hidden in bunkers and caves north of the DMZ. South Korea’s fleet of F-15Ks (pictured here) already have a precision strike capability; upgrading F-16s would allow the Republic of Korea Air Force to take on more “hardened facilities” in North Korea.

North Korea has a new second in Command. [Link]

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il put to rest this week any doubt about whom he sees as his second in command when he elevated his brother-in-law Jang Song-taek to a powerful military post, analysts said on Friday.

Kim, 67, was re-elected to his leadership post at parliament on Thursday but questions about his health, raised by a suspected stroke in August, remained. He cut a gaunt figure at the session and, his hair thinned and graying, walked with a limp onto stage.

By elevating the energetic and urbane Jang, 63, to the North's seat of power called the National Defence Commission, Kim has set him up as a kingmaker, analysts said.

Jang, an economic specialist considered pragmatic and worldly, is seen as the most likely choice to take over should Kim suddenly pass away. He could also mentor one of Kim's three known sons if he decides to groom them for succession.

I hope this is all just saber rattling and not something more.