ABC’s Diane Sawyer has been reporting live from North Korea. Western journalists are rarely allowed in the country, so this is a very cool thing.

You can watch the videos here.

Andrei Lankov recently wrote No Good Options, an article explaining our options concerning North Korea going nuclear.

“For years, the U.S. and other nations have warned in the most unequivocal terms that they would never tolerate North Korea’s possession of nuclear weapons. But now that Pyongyang has announced that it has conducted a nuclear test, the options for dealing with this newly proclaimed nuclear power remain as unattractive as ever…” – Read the Rest

World readies for second bomb – Herald Sun

Intelligence agencies in the US and Japan were expecting the North Koreans to carry out a second test — possibly within a week — amid reports the first was much smaller than had been planned.

North Korea Threatens War Against U.S. – Forbes.com

“If the U.S. keeps pestering us and increases pressure, we will regard it as a declaration of war and will take a series of physical corresponding measures,” the statement, said without specifying what those measures could be.

US fears ‘hell’ of a response – Herald Sun

The US leadership is looking at international economic and diplomatic sanctions against North Korea as its primary response to Monday’s nuclear test.

But military contingencies are considered as a matter of course and analysts paint a horrific picture for even the most targeted of US strikes… Pentagon strategists continue to work on military contingencies but all scenarios forecast massive casualties and a high likelihood of escalating war.

North Korea claims nuclear test. – Washingtonpost.com

Have I mentioned my long time interest in North Korea? Things are heating up there lately. North Korea has threatened to test a nuclear device. U.S. intelligence has detected movement on the ground which suggests that the North Koreans are serious.

Here are a few relevant quotes and links:

“I hope that North Korea doesn’t misread the intentions of the United States,” the sources quoted Bolton as saying.

“We think that the main point (of the statement) is that North Korea should understand how strongly the United States and many other council members feel that they should not test this nuclear device and that if they do test it will be a very different world the day after the test.” – JapanTimes
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“We are not going to live with a nuclear North Korea,” Assistant Secretary of State Chris Hill told the U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University Wednesday. “We are not going to accept it.”

North Korea “can have a future, or it can have these weapons. It cannot have both,” Hill said. The U.S. and its allies “are in a very tense time” in dealing with Pyongyang, Hill added.
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But ranking U.S. government officials warned that if the North goes through with the tests, it will take serious measures including military action. – North Korea Zone

My question: Do we have the resources for military action? Seems like our military is a little busy lately.

More News:
Chicago Tribune

Just in case all of this World News seems a little scattered and random. Let’s play connect the dots.

North Korea •———–• Iran

One or more Iranians witnessed North Korea’s recent missile tests, deepening U.S. concerns about growing ties between two countries with troubling nuclear capabilities, a top U.S. official said Thursday. – MSNBC.com

[via - NorthKoreaZone]

Iran •———–• Hezzbollah

“Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said Hezbollah orchestrated the kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers last Wednesday with the blessing of Iran, its long-time benefactor, to divert international attention from Tehran’s nuclear program.” – UPI.com

“Israeli officials have claimed — and defense and Middle East analysts in Washington agree — that Hezbollah’s arsenal has increased in both size and range, with help from Iran.” – CBS

Iran •———–• Iraq Insurgency

“The commanding general of multinational forces in Iraq says there has been a noticeable increase in Iran’s support for Iraqi insurgents since January.

Army General George Casey told reporters at the Pentagon June 22 that covert Iranian special forces are adding to the complexity of an unstable security situation in Iraq by providing weapons, roadside bomb technology and training to Shi’ite extremist groups.” – USinfo.state.gov

“The Iranians are most likely training these extremists in Iran and possibly Lebanon. “There are some indications that Lebanese Hezbollah is also used in some of the training functions for the Iranians,” he said. ” – defenselink.mil

I’ve got the NIV Study Bible in my PDA, Bible Gateway in my Firefox search bar, and a shortcut to BibleIn90Days.com at the top of my browser. Then there are the hard copy Bibles: paperbacks, hardbacks, the classic black leather with gold trim and red letters, thin line, giant print, military desert camo, woodland camo, children’s Bibles… NIV, NASV, TNIV, KJV, NKJV, Greek Interlinear. This isn’t a list of what is available at the local Christian bookstore, this is a list of a few of the Bibles in my house right now.

I’m Spoiled. Are you?

Do you realize that people die for the chance to own their own Bible? That’s not a metaphor or exaggeration. They actually give up their lives for the opportunity to read the Word of God. Entire villages share one copy of the book of John. And they treasure it. They hide Bibles in their mattresses, in holes in the wall, buried in the back yard. They risk imprisonment and death by smuggling the scriptures across hostile borders.

The Voice of the Martyrs prints scriptures on vinyl bags and fills them with helium. The balloons float into North Korea at night. North Korean soldiers scramble to shoot down the balloons before their message is received. They’re not just shooting the balloons. They’ll shoot those who try to gather them. This doesn’t keep everyone away. People risk everything by picking up the balloons, saving, studying, and sharing them. [source]

I read about these brave, persecuted Christians when I was a teenager. I dreamt of smuggling Bibles into China or North Korea. It sounded like such an important, exciting adventure.

Want to start smuggling Bibles but don’t have the resources for a trip to China? Here’s your chance:
Bibles Unbound

With Bibles Unbound, you mail New Testaments into restricted countries.

“The cost is only $30.00 per month for each pack of five Bible mailings and includes everything you need to participate in the program.”

“In cooperation with UPS and the international re-mail system, The Voice of the Martyrs is able to mail Bibles directly into many restricted nations using non-U.S. postage. And because the New Testaments are mailed individually and anonymously, issues of “illegal” distribution and citizens of the restricted nation having contact with the West are avoided.”

This would be a great project for kids. They can help get the packages ready and can track the Bibles they send online.

Please consider becoming a part of this program. If you have the money, but don’t want to spend the time mailing Bibles each month, then let us know. The kids and I will mail them for you. We don’t have the money to sign up right now… But guess what I want for my birthday…

Carnival of Beauty
March 1st Theme: Bible
Host: Marla Swoffer
Read the other submissions.