North Korea launch threatens disarmament talks

North Korea's plan to launch a rocket as early as this week, in defiance of warnings, threatens to undo years of negotiations toward dismantling the regime's nuclear program. Pyongyang has custody of two American reporters, which could provide the opening North Korea needs to force direct talks with Washington. Daniel Pinkston of the Ploughshares-funded International Crisis Group commented, "The timing couldn't be better for North Korea. It strengthens the North's bargaining position with the U.S. in dealing with the nuclear issue."

The U.S., South Korea and Japan have told the North that any rocket launch — whether it's a satellite or a long-range missile — would violate a 2006 U.N. Security Council Resolution prohibiting Pyongyang from any ballistic activity, and could draw sanctions. North Korea said sanctions would violate the spirit of disarmament agreements, and said it would treat the pacts as null and void if punished for exercising its sovereign right to send a satellite into space.