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The motivations for North Korea’s second nuclear test are, as with many of its actions, mostly impenetrable.

North Korea says it is preparing to launch an experimental communications satellite using a rocket that is part of its ballistic missile program.

South Korea’s electoral politics has made a turn to the right that is likely to lead to closer security ties with the U.S. and some other important adjustments in foreign policy and has already strained relations with the North.

On 19 December 2007, South Koreans elected Lee Myung-bak as their president.

North Korea’s relations with Russia have been marked by unrealistic expectations and frequent disappointments but common interests have prevented a rupture.

The North Korea nuclear talks finally achieved a breakthrough on 13 February 2007, when the six parties struck a general denuclearisation deal.

The North Korean nuclear standoff entered an even more troubling phase with Pyongyang’s test of a nuclear device on 9 October 2006. Condemnation was nearly universal, and the UN Security Council moved quickly to pass Resolution 1718 unanimously less than a week later.