Possible North Korean Nuclear Test Overshadows Obama's Tour

North Korea has stated its plans to conduct a nuclear weapons exercise, and the President is ready to offer a concrete response if the test is activated during his stay. Yesterday, a South Korean governmental head confirmed that the last underground detonation phase has been completed.

If executed, this would mark the territory's fourth nuclear weapon test. The North Korean Foreign Ministry termed Obama's travels as "...a reactionary and dangerous one, as it is aimed to escalate confrontation and bring dark clouds of a nuclear arms race to hang over this unstable region". While the U.S. President described North Korea as: "...the most isolated country in the world".

Obama added that South Korea and the United States need to find more severe sanctions to pressure Pyongyang. At the same time, the President is offering his condolences to families affected by the recent Sewol ferry catastrophe. In a JoongAng Ilbo news interview, he declared, "Michelle and I sent our deepest condolences to the South Korean people, and as parents we cannot begin to imagine what all those grieving parents are going through, having lost their sons and daughters".