International concerns over
North Korea's alleged nuclear weapons program have increased, with the communist
state reactivating nuclear facilities that were frozen in 1994.
The North has now also withdrawn from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
and warned it may drop its self-imposed moratorium on ballistic missile
tests.
Pyongyang says these are self-defense measures forced on it by the 'hostile'
policy of the United States that branded the North part of an "axis of evil."
Although the war of words shows little sign of abating, diplomatic efforts
continue to strive for a peaceful end to the crisis.
