how big a threat does pyongyang pose to the rest of the world? international security expert is going to weigh in and join us straight ahead. >>> sarah palin's stunning decision to resign has left the governor, speculation about her future plans. she announced she is leaving office 16 months before her term expires. and she says staying in office as a lame-duck wouldn't benefit her state. the lieutenant-governor will be sworn in as governor july 26th. here's what he told my colleague earlier. >>> you know, i am going to stay in this. i am going to complete the term. but i am also conscious that we don't control life. so i may be dead tomorrow. and i'm not going to commit beyond that. but you bet i will serve out the term. >> sir, we certainly, wasn't what i was meaning. we hope you are going to be all right. maybe need to check on you every now and then. one last thing here -- know it is a little way out. you just figured out wednesday you got the job. are we going to be seeing you in 2010 running for governor of alaska for your own full term? >>

the south koreans, of course, blame pyongyang. the south koreans blame pyongyang for a lot of things. so we'll need see some evidence. >> and how concerned should we be that some of the websites that were hit, i understand, include the u.s. treasury department, the secret service, federal trade commission, and the transportation department. they were all down, at least one time or another, during the july 4th holiday weekend. >> the truth is, martin, not very. these attacks appear to have been, barring some presentation of new evidence, the old-style pranksterish, so-called denial of service attacks. in which can, in which the perpetrators, usually hackers, often in the past teenagers, target certain systems and flood them. flood them with -- flood these sites with so much traffic that the sites can't temporarily function. >> so this was. >> temporarily. >> trying to interfere with the department of transportation, maybe trying to harm air traffic in some way? >> no, and that's the kind of thing that really worries security expert

reuters reporting that south korean television reporting that kim jong-il, leader of pyongyang in northa has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. we will be continuing to follow this very important story that obviously appeals to the entire world specifically because north korea has been in the rule violating sanctions, in fact the 4th of july weekend, launching not one, not two, but in fact seven missiles in direct u.n. violations, directly defying china and russia, its two allies in the region. so kim jong-il developing p pancreatic cancer. poe things he was diagnosed a while ago because news to hard to reach in north korea and there are no mrn journalists, besides the two jailed there for crossing into north korea. this weekend was reported that north korea is considering releasing those two journalists, because they want to make some sort of deal with the united states, but now, their leader, kim jong-il, the leader of pyongyang, the leader in position many, many years defiant with the u.n. and the united states in his participation in the nuclear program they have going there has

and earlier this mong, pyongya pyongyang -- month, pyongyang again larged and medium-range missiles into the sea of japan, including the 4th of july. now, awful these are indications that the north -- now, all of these are indications somehow that the nortnorth koreans should not be listed as terrorists? frankly, i respect and reesh united states my friend from kansas, maybe we ought to have a binding regulars luges rather than a sense -- binding resolution rather than a sense of the senate. it's remarkable. pyongyang has never accounted for or even acknowledged its role in assisting the construction of a nuclear reactor in syria, which the his rails had to bomb -- which the israelis had to bomb and similarly has refused to provide a complete and correct declaration of its nuclear programs. and, of course, something we all know, mr. president, which is one of the great tragedies in the history of the world and that is the gulag that -- of some 200,000 people where people are regularly beaten, starved, executed. according to the "washington post," most work 12- to 15-hour days until they

she warned pyongyang that they have no friends left to back ambitions. their median return described quran as an an intelligent -- her as an intelligent, funny lady. we had an interview. >> u.s. secretary of state hillary clinton has just dropped off a new trip to india and thailand. she came here to emphasize that the american administration wants to cooperate with countries in the region after which he claims were years of neglect by washington. she also warned iran against continuing its nuclear program and spoke of the defense umbrella. before she got on the plane back to washington, i sat down with her. >> the escalation continues, you could reach dangerous territory where there is a lot of tension. at some point, somewhat to back down, and i assume it will have to be a responsible adult, rather than an adolescent with a tantrum. >> there is no way to resolve the danger of north korea is given a pass. so we do have to keep the pressure on, and sanctions are designed to do that. i have been quite amazed, actually, to the extent which other countries

according to pyongyang's foreign ministry, they are open to, quote, new dialogue over the weapons program. the communist regime did not make a direct call for talks at the u.s. but has made it clear it will not return to the six-nation talks with china, japan, two koreas and the u.s. a nuclear test and a series of banned missile talks with the u.s. on one-on-one talks. >>> this morning the state of alaska has a new governor. sarah palin stepped down as alaska's leader. she has her sights on the white house once again but this time as a president chal contender. nbc's leanne gregg reports. >> reporter: after a weekend of good-byes from sarah palin came the official moment, the swearing in of a new governor of alaska. the former lieutenant governor will take over the remaining year and a half of palin's term. >> it is my honor to speak to all alaskans, to our alaskan families this time as your governor. >> reporter: in palin's final address as governor, a tribute to her state. >> in alaska, it is not easy living but it is a good living. and here it is impossible to lose your way. >> reporte

she said that there was a united front against pyongyang. >> all four of the foreign ministers agreed that full implementation is important to demonstrate unity and resolve in the face of north korean provocation. to make clear that complete and irreversible denuclearization is the only viable path for north korea. >> hillary clinton came to the meeting with a broader agenda as well. and another message. america is back. she has repeatedly said that the u.s. is a trans-pacific power. hillary clinton spoke at length about washington's commitment to its allies in the region. her aides said that a collective policy and a united front were paying off on issues like north korea and burma. washington is also trying to push back against china's growing influence in the region. >> the iraqi prime minister, nouri al-malki, holding his first talks at the white house since the obama election. now that the u.s. has repeated their pledge to pull out all troops from iraq by 2011, it is the issue of lifting iraq's multibillion-dollar chapter 7. >> it would be a mistake for iraq to continue to be bur

. >>> gaffney is held pyongyang hostage by a serial killer.shot to death there and police say the murders are linked. >>> the first victims were buried over the weekend and this morning the town is on virtual lockdown. jeffrey kofman is there. >> reporter: for the residents of this small south carolina town, there was little to celebrate this holiday weekend as they gathered to bury two more victims of a serial killer, who is now believed to have murdered five people. you knew all five? >> i did. i've grown up in this community, and it's just really been hard to accept. >> reporter: hundreds of police officers and investigators have descended on cherokee county in a race to catch the killer before he strikes again. the sheriff has released this composite of the man they're looking for. they do not know his motive. >> there's no evidence that he knows the victims. there's no evidence that the victims are connected. >> reporter: the killings began on the outskirts of gaffney when a 63-year-old peach farmer was shot in his home. then, on wednesda

the sout koreans, of course, blame pyongyang. the south koreans bla pygyang for a lot of things. we'll needee some idence. >> andow cncerned should we be that some of the websites tt were hit, i understand, include the u.s.reasury department, the secret svice, federalrade commission, and the transportationdepartment. they were all down, at least one time or another, during the july 4tholiday weekend. >> the truth is, martin, not very. these attacks appearo have een, barring some psentation new evidence, e old-style pranksterish, so-cled denl of servic attacks. in which can, in which e perpetrars, usually hackers, often in the pa teenagers, targetertain sysms and flood them. flood them with flood these sitewith so much traffic that the sitesan't temporarly functn. >> so this was. >> temporarily. trying to interfere wh the department of transportation, maybe trying to harm air traffic in so way? no, and that's theind of thing at really rries security experts, serity computer perts are worried about interference with systems, command and control systems, with financial data, with yo

Ãmokidnise, this morning and ben the house, there is plenty from south korea and it oth ourred see ter pyongyangstified, 7 people range ballistic missiles, we are now told could reach k n government and military targets, in south korea. what is going on with north -rea and why are they doing it? joining us is john bolten u.s. ambassador to the u . and a f hap k, t kns krintd tor andpraood mg and good to see you on a sunday morning. >>praood morninm. her3, >> e cac: they launched it july 4th and every july 4th it seems th ne launch misir les and in ' launched 7 missiles and did it again yesterday, and, why are th ne doing this and what do thy wanted? >> you no, this report from south korea has been corroborated by the forfor ogn minister of australia. that the missiles seem to have achieved a war csaperent landin pattern and which could indicate their guidance systems have been eisroveote so, kind of a bottom line, even though, they like to launch on our holiday or test nuclear wepakons our ytolida la, these missile tests may actually fundamentally be about the missiles thernmelves and e lproving

>>reporter: south koreans may be used to pyongyang's threats. the same can't be said of foreigners thinking of doing business here. >>chul: it has many economic ramifications and whenever we speak to foreign financial institutions and foreign investors, large foreign multinational firms whether they are interested in coming to korea, invest in korea then they always raise this question and they are very much concerned about the belligerent posture taken by north korea. >>reporter: south korea's economy is not as heavily dependent on foreign investment as many of its neighbors. >>: its homegrown industrial powerhouses are now world leaders in sectors such as lcd and semi-conductormaking, shipbuilding and auto making. >>: but it remains heavily dependent on exports and has been hit hard by the global slump...though nowhere near as badly as during the 1997-98 asian financial crisis. >>maelzer: south korea was among the countries hardest hit by the crisis. its currency depreciated sharply, many of its largest companies were struggling under heavy de

pyongyang defiantly said no.an official claiming the united states has an anti-north korean stance. over at the conference, the sparks flew. cnn's zain verjee explains. >> reporter: an unscripted moment of drama, a spat between the u.s. and north korea happening at a regional meeting in thailand just before u.s. secretary of state hillary clinton started speaking. north korean officials suddenly tried to take the podium and speak. they were hustled away by the guards there. secretary clinton says north korean's defiant behavior over its nuclear program is troubling, and she says north korea is on the wrong course, has no friends, and could face more sanctions. the news agency is reporting north korea is slamming secretary clinton, calling her a funny lady who's not intelligent, has no elementary etiquette and diplomacy. it is an unusually personal attack that goes on to say she looks like a primary schoolgirl and sometimes a pensioner going shopping. zain verjee, cnn, london. >>> one of the way the united states

yesterday hillary clinton still insisted multilateral talks are the best way to engage pyongyang. >>> iran, which israel considers the biggest threat to its security dominated the talks. he said his country is taking no option off the table when it comes to iran's nuclear program, suggesting a military strike is not out of the question. last week u.s. and israel conducted a missile test. israel and iran have made repeated threats against each other. the u.s. has ak onlied israeli concerns but wants to give diplomacy more time. >> i think we are in full agreement on the negative consequences of iran obtaining this kind of capability. we're also agreed that it is important to take every opportunity to try to persuade the iranians to reconsider what is actually in their own security interest. he said the offer to engage iran is not open ended. president obama wants a response from iran in the next few months. >>> an oklahoma man is charged with gunning down two sheriff deputies. the officers tried to serve him with a domestic abuse warrant. a witness said the deputies were shot when they

pyongyang is upset after clinton compared the nuclear tests to the actions of small children demandinghe is pose for u.n. sanctions on north korea. >>> hundreds of people came together for a vigil in idaho. the pentagon says bergdahl was kidnapped june 30th in afghanistan. the hour-long vigilant started near a coffee shop where me used to work. >>> president obama says the arrest of noted black scholar henry louis gates jr. is that racism still haunts us. he said they acted stupidly but admitted he might bias since gates is a friend. he was arrested after a neighbor called in a possible burglary. earlier on "american morning" we talked to the city's mayor and i asked her if she thought race was an issue in this case. >> yes, race is a factor. it's knowledge we all know that black and latino, particularly men, have historically had problems with police. and so you can't not talk about this without talking about or doing it with race. >> do you believe that race was a factor in this particular case? >> i'm not going to make that judgment now. >> professor gates says his arrest is a clear

what do you think pyongyang's intentions are. first of all, practice does make perfect. they are trying to get better at it. deep down they really have a succession crisis going on in north korea. kim jong-il is about to step over on the side and could with a stroke and he wants to install his son. that is his third son and so he is trying, think i, to exhibit a very strong position so people don't try to take advantage, number one within north korea and, of course, outside north korea. that is what i think is going on. it's very dangerous. >> gregg: it is, all this missile activity as you well know, not to mention the nuclear tests that have been performed under ground, all of that is prohibited by united nations resolutions, is it now abundantly apparent that the u.n. sanctions as a deterrent are utterly meaningless? >> look we've got people that are hoping this works out, but hope is not a strategy. we need to be very realistic and start i in addition mediating strategies that give the north korean government some pain. >> gregg: like what? >> like some very aggressiv

russia and china recently came out and saying that they're very tired of pyongyang's actions and finallymaybe the united states can come up with some sort of resolution with russia, importantly on this trip and china to make it all stop. that's the question and a big, big mission for president obama as all eyes are on him. this is the president who obviously campaigned through his entire presidential campaign, urging, his supporters urging americans this president is going to do it differently. he's willing to sit down and talk to leaders of other kupts, specifically countries that haven't necessarily seen eye to eye with the united states. a leader perhaps like iran's president ahmadnejad. and russia hasn't sat down with an american president in years so what president obama is doing this weekend and this week as he marks this overseas trip is going to be a historical one at the very least, after moscow, by the way, he could be joining the pope in italy and his trip goes on from there, but this is a mission that will reshape the u.s. image, at least that's the intention by our president

left in the international community and urged asian leaders to vigorously enforce sanctions against pyongyangre not interested in half measures. we do not intend to reward the north just for returning to the table. >> reporter: in response, north korea said that it has n intention to return to the bargaining table. and pulled out of talks on its nuclear program. >>> a soldier who was reported as a possible kidnap victim has been discovered unharmed.ge st n thg quebiion remains. what's this all a hoax? officer james gonzalez was taken into custody last night during the traffic stop in texas after leaving a relative's home. he based -- is based at fort hood. investigators are looking into claims he was abducted but say there are no indications he was taken by force. gonzalez disappeared a week ago. two days later the army received a call saying gonzalez had been kidnapped and the caller demanded a $100,000 ransom. the soldier could face charges. >>> when we come right back on "news4 at 4:00" this afternoon, new revelations about the possibility that michael jackson had a secret son. >> also, se

the launches are not helpful and calling on pyongyang to refrain from any actions that will further cause tension in the nations. >>> the new government and the president who is ousted in a coup. this was, actually, this, right here, was the capital today. about 10,000 people marching in support of the ousted leader zelaya. he has plans to return to honors tomorrow. if he does, he will be arrested. honduras in the meantime has pulled out as the organization of american states rather than wait to be expelled. >>> u.s. military puts on the gas in afghanistan while it's winding down its involvement in iraq. we'll talk about the military shifting strategy in both countries with retired u.s. army general russell honoree. >> just wishing my family a happy fourth of july and special mention to my wife, i love you, babe, i'll be home. >>> again this year u.s. troops are marking independence day on the battlefields far from home. in afghanistan, the marines launched a major offensive against the taliban. in iraq, u.s. troops have withdrawn from the major iraqi cities as part of, you know, the u.s.

pygya pyongyang's foreign minsty wants to engage in talks with the u.s. the regime has not been so willing to engage in diplomacy in the past. north korea's defense minister says a military attack from the u.s. and south korea would be "unimagable." >>> the u.s. and china have a responsibility to curb nuclear proliferation in iran and in north korea. as today's high-level talks got under way, president obama said the two countries are ready to make steady progress on some of the world's most pressing issues, including the global economic crisis. >> the united states and china will agree on every issue. nor choose to see the world in the same way. this was already noted by our previous speaker. but that only makes dialogue more important so that we can know each other better and communicate our concerns with candor. >> secretary of state hillary clinton and treasure secretary timothy geithner also spoke optimistically about the possibility of a stronger relationship between the u.s. and china. >>> the relationship between china and taiwan may be improving.

pyongyang confirms they will not resume nuclear discussions but is doctored in direct bilateral negotiations with washington. gas prices are still falling alo across the u.s. but not much longer. survey says gas fell about $0.07 in the past two weeks. the rate of decline appears to be slowing. 1.51 below the price a year ago. all time high of 4.50 cents. i am lauren sivan. we head back to geraldo at large right here on to -- fox news. >> back live. before the break and before we discuss the dope fields of afghanistan, juan williams suggested the incident in cambridge, massachusetts was not racial profiling. ann coulter agreed with him. my concern for juan's career i want to give him a chance to respond. >> i am glad that ann agreed with me. i have a lot of respect for ann. i wrote one about black leadership and the dysfunction and so much of the black leadership. al sharpton called me the black ann coulter. let me tell you something, you heard from the professor you talk about organizeing this and doing that in larger issues you cannot have what the president calls a teaching moment if it's

. >> pyongyang has no intention of returning to the talks. >>> when we come back tonight on "news4 at 6:00," vandals target a clothing store displaying a t-shirt featuring a message about gay marriage. >>> an update on the casef the maryland driver given a ticket for going too slowly. >> and bob is back with another check on the lightning going through our area. stick around. (announcer) the official $5 combo of summer is here. with curly fries and a drink for only $5. it's the $5 combo done better. >>> we had some wild weather. still popping up all over the place. no cohesiveness. >> all the way up saturated. we get the showers and it is like somebody dumped a bucket with lightning. we do need the rain. outside look at our sky. we really see the sky and time lapse with the way things were building up and moving through some showers earlier. and another batch. sort of a boiling atmosphere. our temperature outside right now after the high temperature, 87 degrees. down to the high 70s. believe it or not, with all that rain, officially in washington, a trace of rain,t is still the driest

pyongyang signaled that the passed power to his younger son but believe the power may be held by themilitary as this transition plays out. could have serious implications for u.s. policy. >>> christopher hill escaped injury sunday when a roadside bomb exploded near his convoy. that bombing happened southeast of baghdad. >>> a car bomb in baghdad killed four people on sunday. it exploded near a church as worshippers were leaving. >>> good news about gas prices. they have fallen ten cents a gallon. today aaa puts the average price of regular gas at now $2.53 a gallon. >>> nasa will try again today to launch the shuttle "endeavour" but the forecast is iffy again. this one did get off the ground. an f-18 navy jet passed too close for comfort to a apartment building in detroit. 7:18. let's go back to matt, ann and al. >> i think he's thinking where's my camera. crazy. >> where are my new shorts? that's what he's >> our temperatures are right where they should be for this time of year. normal at 87. partly cloudy to mostly sunny, slight chance of an isolated thunderstorm on the delmarva. l

i'm sure pyongyang is very concerned about this report. but i don't think it will change anything of behavioral taking place. if we don't have a strong answer -- as a matter of fact, it will probably urge them to do something even fur. then my -- even further. then my colleagues say this is irresponsible on whether they are doing anything with hezbollah. there is a bipartisan amendment i put forward with senator bayh who wanted that provision and a report talks about north korea supporting hezbollah, building bunkers, and supporting and helping that out. that is a current factual setting. for my colleague on the other side, senator bayh, has asked, and pushed this be in the overall bill. i just would ask my colleagues to look at this interesting definition of "international terrorism." this is a definition that is in u.s. statute on "international terrorism," and it appears to be written for north korea, north korea in mind. it says that "appear to be intended -- intimidate or coerce a civilian population." that is what north korea does in

said on a visit to pyongyang north korea wants the u.s. reporters to quote admitted to hostile acts. they were sentenced to 12 years of hard labor earlier this year. texas officials are warning residents they could be in for brownouts or blackouts in the states hovering above 100 degrees and urging residents to cut back by unplugging appliances and turning up the thermostat and everybody wants to turn it down, but they want to you turn it up. governor arnold schwarzenegger and legislators are back at work today trying to close the state's 26 million dollar budget shortfall. talks stalled earlier in the week, but now, some sides of somewhat optimistic. the state is so far overextended it will run out of money to pay for most of its core functions, sometime in september. an update now on a story that's garnered a lot of interest around the world. it has to do with that oklahoma trooper who stopped and tried to arrest a paramedic while there was an elderly heart patient inside the ambulance. you've seen the scuffle, but what was going on with

the pictures come from state-run media and are said to show him touring a factory in pyongyang. unconfirmed reports surfaced this week that the 67-year-old is suffering from life-threatening pancreatic cancer. >> it was a frightening ordeal. an elderly couple held hostage in their leesburg home for hours. this morning they're telling their story. bob and francis beloathe had just finished breakfast on friday when a gun plan barged into their home and demanded money. francis made their captor something to eat. then he tied their arms together. they tried to calm the man as police swarmed outside. >> after he realized that the police were here, he was saying, how can i get out of here? where can i -- how can i escape? >> francis said that she talked to the man about his faith and salvation. police credit those conversations with helping bring the hostage situation to a peaceful end and william spencer was ultimately arrested. >>> well, today's day two of the trial for a d.c. woman accused of killing her four daughters and living with their decomposing bodies. banita jacks is facin

in a statement pyongyang says it will not turn six party talks but has hinted to dialogue with washingtonwant d.c. at the table, folks. meanwhile service hillary clinton says north korea has never been so isolated from the balance of the world. she credits the chinese with putting pressure on the country of north korea. brian: police have arrested a man in connection with the death of former "american idol" hopeful alexis cohen ♪ don't you want somebody to love ♪ wouldn't you love somebody to love. >> cohen made legendary appearance on idol was hit in hit and run accident. charged with death by reckless driving and leaving the scene of a crash. gretchen: horrible story. health care bill is meant to protect the mentally disabled. its language is offending that community. massachusetts democrat barney frank introduced a bill in march that referred to the mentally disabled as mentally retarded. bill being debated in congress right now. still upsetting advocates and family members of the mentally disabled community. steve: 62 people behind bars in arizona this morning after massive criminal r

what it means for pyongyang and markets around the world. congress man talks about that.ns right now. >>> good monday morning. i'm carl quintanilla along with becky quick and joe kernen. asia got clocked overnight. nikkei down 3%, close to 9,000. some worries about exporters there. some of our top stories. the president urging americans to give his economic recovery plan some time to work in an op-ed in "the washington post," the president says the purpose of the package was to kickstart the economy, not return it to full health. the presidents so far is has done that. it was from the start a two-year program and it will steadily save and create jobs as it ramps up over the summer and the fall. there are some reports this morning that kim jong-il has life-threatening pancreatic cancer. picture last week showing him gaunt and ill. it leads to concerns about instability in north korea and the possibility of a power struggle if he dies without naming a successor. his youngest son has often been mentioned as a possible heir. that could probably introduce instability into mark

reporortsld us too believe, w we' ttol eyey'rsomehow being routed through south korea, potentntiay from pyongyangs "the e shshinon post," the nyse. cayou tell us what you k kw w about that? >> llll,the department o of memela security is highlyy involveded iresosoining those infifilttitis through our -- what we call ourur cert teams. they'vee b bee involvedd continuouslyly throughthat. beyond that i n't want t speculate on the sourcee ofhosee papaicicul attacks. i would say pursuit to president obama's directive a aththe beginnining t ts term, t the whole isise e of cybyber attack cyber protectioion,hehe integri of ourybyb n netrks has been a high prioritity rr . . >> what -- guess, eeou backtracking the reports that is north koror-b-bas or u're not wiwiining address that at this point? >> well, i jt prefer not t respond. i i prer not to spulule. i don't't think that's veryry helpful at this popot t inime. what i do know,w, howeweve is t this whole issueofof cyber attatackoror wt's going on the cyber world isiselelately neanansomething we're wkiking at a variety of levels.. >> howamaming to the de

pyongyang says the country will not return to six-nation nuclear talks. the united states says it will only allow talks within the six-party format. >>> this morning a five-year-old boy in deadly condition after a three-car crash that killed eight people including his mother, sister and three young sus inside. it happened yesterday north of new york city when the boy's mother drove the wrong way on the parkway and slammed head on into an suv. the three men inside the suv were also killed. a third vehicle was also involved in the crash but those passengers were not seriously injured. >>> right now shuttle astronauts aforward the international space station are gearing up for an ambition walk. the fifth and final is scheduled in two and a half hours. they are installing new cameras, rearranging power hookups as well. >>> lance armstrong may have missed out on the yellow jersey this weekend but he still made a pretty impressive comeback at the tour de france. >> he did. the seven-time winner took his place on the podium as the third cyclist to finish the rac

addresses have been traced to north korea, that does not necessarily mean they are, in fact, related to pyongyang indication it could come from china, not certain of the origin of this. homeland security department saying the far-reaching attacks show the importance of homeland security at this point of a critical, national issue and also waves we're seeing of cyberassaults is what is known as a denial of service attack. what that is, essentially, not that uncommon and it's caused when sites are so overwhelmed with internet traffic they're taken off line. this incident does bring to the forefront a key 21st century threat. again, these attacks started back on independence day, chuck. >> a lot of vulnerabilities we don't want to talk about it almost. let's change topics. a kansas teenager builds his own electric vehicle, right? >> exactly. it is amazing he went against his parents' wishes in so many ways. he's 17 yoors old and very creative. he wanted a set of wheels and his parents said, no. he retrofitted an old ft. escort through what he learned online. his parents again, said, don't do it. he

as pyongyang prepares for the transition from kim gong-il to his son, the regime's behavior has become increasingly belligerent and unpredictable. north korea has pulled out of the six-party negotiations, restarted its nuclear program, test launched several ballistic missiles, and conducted a suspected underground nuclear test. the regime even declared that it now has abandoned the armistice that brought the cease-fire to the korean war. what has the obama administration done in response to this threat to the security of other nations in the region and, indeed, to the very security of the united states? the answer is disappointing. it's cut missile defense. the president's budget to cut the missile defense agency's budget for fiscal year 2010 by $1.2 billion and decrease the planned number of ground-based interceptor missiles in alaska from 44 to 30. these proposals amount to almost a 15% cut in the missile defense agency's budget and a major reduction in our missile defense portfolio. at the very moment we should be increasing our capability to defend ourselves and our allies from the