N. Korea demands recognition as nuclear state

North Korea renewed its demand Tuesday for recognition as a nuclear power, saying it was a pre-requisite for the start of any dialogue with the United States.
A commentary in the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper rejected as “totally unacceptable” a US demand that North Korea commit to abandoning its nuclear weapons and missile programme before any talks can begin.
Any meeting at the negotiating table must be “between nuclear weapons states”, it said.
The United States has made it clear that it will never formally accept the North, which carried out its third nuclear test in February, as a nuclear power...........

After a month of escalating military tensions on the Korean peninsula, Seoul, Washington and Pyongyang have begun skirting around the possibility of dialogue.
For the moment, however, most energy is being expended on rejecting each other's pre-conditions.
During a trip to Seoul, Beijing and Tokyo earlier this month, US Secretary of State John Kerry said Pyongyang must first prove it was serious about reining in its nuclear programme.
North Korea responded by demanding the withdrawal of UN sanctions and an end to all future South Korea-US joint military exercises. 

Japan Readying Patriot Missiles to Defend Against North Korea's Suspected Upcoming Nuclear Missile Test

Japan has deployed Patriot missiles in and around central Tokyo as a defensive measure should North Korea decide to launch an attack amid rising tensions in the Korean Peninsula.

Tokyo has moved three Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) surface-to-air missile launchers, according to the defence ministry. Two more batteries are likely to be stationed at other places.
The units are meant to defend the headquarters of the defence ministry and key military installations in the capital as well as the 30 million people who live in greater Tokyo.
"We are proceeding with measures including deployment of PAC-3 as we are on alert," said Tokyo's Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera.......



He said another unit would be stationed in Okinawa prefecture as "the place that is most effective in responding to emergencies".
Although Japan has poured scorn on North Korea's threats thus far, the latest move is evidence that it could be preparing for the worst.
Tokyo had already deployed Aegis class destroyers equipped with missile interceptors in the Sea of Japan to counter the North Korean threats, and authorised its forces to shoot down any missile emanating from North Korea.  
"The government is making utmost efforts to protect our people's lives and ensure their safety. As North Korea keeps making provocative comments, Japan, cooperating with relevant countries, will do what we have to do. For the moment, the most important thing is to implement sanctions under the UN Security Council resolutions," Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters.
Further details about the deployment have been withheld by the authorities because of the sensitive nature of the issue.
"We'd like to refrain from explaining further because it would give away details of the cards we hold. At any rate, we have taken thorough measures to ensure the safety of the people," said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga.
The announcement from Tokyo, Washington's close ally in the region, has come after Seoul-based reports suggested that North Korea has moved two medium-range missiles off its eastern coast.
While former North Korean leader Kim Il-Sung's birthday falls on 15 April, experts believe Pyongyang's current leadership may resort to provocative actions coinciding with the occasion to boost its own reputation domestically.