North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, occupies the northern half of the Korean Peninsula, with its capital in the city of Pyongyang. North Korea's government, led by Kim Jong Il, is widely considered to be a Stalinist dictatorship.

On June 12, 2009, UN voted to adopt a resolution to restrict loans and money transfers to North Korea and step up cargo inspections suspected of material that could be used to develop nuclear weapons or ballistic missiles. The decision was made after North Korea detonated what is believed to have been a nuclear weapon, tested several missiles and voided the armistice that ended the Korean War.Bloomberg: UN Votes to Punish North Korea for Nuclear Test(June 12, 2009)

On June 24, 2009, North Korea threatened the U.S. by saying, "If the U.S. imperialists start another war, the army and people of Korea will...wipe out the aggressors on the globe once and for all.http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iURO8fOyWVOA0ytFlaAGuC9F7R9wD9912KIO0

North Korea's form of government is widely considered a Stalinist dictatorship following the Juche ideology of self reliance, developed by Kim Il-sung, the country's former president. International relations are strong with other socialist states: Vietnam, Laos, China, Russia, Cambodia and Myanmar.

With a major famine in the early 1990s caused by the collapse of the Soviet Union, their economic partner, Kim Jong-Il increased economic concentration and support for the military via the "Military-First" policy in 1995.

Tourism is officially promoted and heavily controlled by the state-owned Tourism Organization ("Ryohaengsa"). Most visas are granted to tourists from China and Japan. Each visitor is accompanied by one or two "guides" who dictate the itinerary and schedule. Contact with native North Koreans is subdued. dictated by the guides; any contact with North Koreans is subdued, whenever possible. Citizens of the United States and South Korea are rarely granted visas for entry into North Korea.

North Korea announced that it would restart its plutonium factory and scrap all disarmament agreements on April 14, 2009. On April 18, 2009, North Korea said any declarations against them would be perceived as a "declaration of war."CNN: North Korea: Sanctions a declaration of war (April 18, 2009)

On April 25, 2009, the North Korean foreign ministry reported the country had started extracting plutonium from spent fuel rods at its nuclear arms plant. The work was said to be intended to bolster "the nuclear deterrence for self-defense... to cope with increasing military threats from hostile forces."Washington Post: North Korea begins extracting plutonium (April 25, 2009) In response, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pressed North Korea to return to its nuclear disarmament "obligations."Reuters: Clinton says hoping to resume North Korea talks (April 25, 2009)

Experts said that it could take North Korea as little as three months to restore its reprocessing facility to full working order, but that the country would likely have a difficult time obtaining needed reactor components.Washington Post: North Korea begins extracting plutonium (April 25, 2009)

At 12:00 p.m. EST on April 5, 2009, the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting in response to North Korea's rocket launch on April 5, 2009, which did not reach orbit and landed in the Pacific Ocean. According to U.S. Ambasaador to the United Nations Susan Rice, the U.S. intended to press the council to add to "previous sanctions" and "toughen existing regimes."Bloomberg.com: U.S. to Ask for Tougher UN Sanctions on North Korea, Rice Says (April 5, 2009)

On April 13, 2009, the Security Council released a presidential statement condemning the launch and warning North Korea to cease additional tests. The statement does not have the force of a resolution, largely because China objected to the additional pressure placed on North Korea.Bloomberg: UN Condemns North Korea Eight Days After Rocket Test (Update1) (April 13, 2009)

On Saturday, April 18, 2009 North Korea said that any sanctions against them in response to their rocket launch and reinstatement of their nuclear program would be considered a "declaration of war." The announcement, on North Korean state TV said, "The revolutionary armed forces of the DPRK are always keeping themselves fully ready to go into action any moment to mercilessly punish anyone who encroaches upon the sovereignty and dignity of the DPRK even a bit."CNN: North Korea: Sanctions a declaration of war (April 18, 2009)

In late March 2009, North Korea threatened to restart their weapons-grade nuclear program if the United States attempted to sanction the nation from launching a rocket, claimed to be a satellite by the North Korean government.FOXNews.com: North Korea Threatens to Restart Nuke Program Over Rocket Launch Sanctions

On April 3, 2009, North Korea claimed that preparations to launch the experimental satellite called "Kwangmyongsong-2" were complete and the launch would commence soon. In response, the Japanese government went on high alert in preparation for the launch.Kyodo: Japan readying itself for impending rocket launch by N. Korea (April 3, 2009)

Despite warnings from the world court to desist, North Korea reiterated it would launch a "communications satellite" sometime between April 4 and 8, 2009. The United States, South Korea and Japan believe that the satellite is in fact a ballistics missile; Japan has promised to take action against any launch. In response, North Korea has promised a "thunderbolt of revenge" against Japan if they do shoot down the rocket..Korea Times: N. Korea Puts Off Firing Rocket (April 4, 2009) Bloomberg: North Korea Readies Rocket Launch as South Weighs Response (April 4, 2009)

On January 30, 2009, North Korea announced that it was suspending all military and political agreements with South Korea. It accused the South Korean government of pushing the relationship to the brink of war by using balloons filled with propaganda leaflets, launched at the north.Bloomberg.com: North Korea Scraps Military Accords With South Korea (January 30, 2009)

North Korea has also announced it is sending a communications satellite into space. Experts believe the country made the announcement to cover up the fact that it's preparing to launch a long-range missile which is capable of reaching Alaska.Mail Online: Passenger jets diverted after North Korean missile threat (March 6, 2009)

Tension continued to escalated between North and South Korea in the first week of March 2009. South Korea will launch a military exercise on March 9, 2009. On March 6, North Korea said it can't guarantee the safety of South Korean airplanes over or near its territory. South Korea diverted its airplanes around North Korean airspace and demanded that the North retracts the statement.Mail Online: Passenger jets diverted after North Korean missile threat (March 6, 2009)

On May 27, 2009, the U.S. and South Korean militaries raised their surveillance level of North Korea to a two, one stage below the highest level.The Korea Herald: Korea, U.S. step up surveillance level over N. Korea (May 27, 2009) This came after North Korea began nuclear testing on May 25. On May 29, 2009, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates stated that the launching of another two missiles by the North Korean government was not a crisis. South Korea reported that The North launched two air-to-ground short range missiles on May 29. The North has reportedly warned that if provoked by United Nations it will act in "self defense."ABCNews: NKorea Test-Fires Missile... (May 29, 2009)