North Korea Threatens the US

Last night I was reading my last batch of news before going to sleep when I see a small article on BBC.com saying the state television station of North Korea has carried a message the US:

Any attempt to interfere with North Korean ships would be seen as an act of war and would require military action.

My question is; Who is North Korea kidding? The UNSC just UNANIMOUSLY approved new sanctions against the pariah state. China and Russia, typically defenders of North Korea in the UN, surprisingly voiced no opposition to the new sanctions. If North Korea launched an attack against the South, or even US property abroad, do they really think they would survive? The South and Japan would most definitely take part in this military operation. What makes them think they would not be the next Afghanistan or Iraq?

Even if they did threaten a nuclear attack, most of the world is not completely sure they would be able to effectively launch the weapon.

Maybe after the transition of power between Kim Jong-il and his son this situation will settle down.

Hamas Shows its Global Reach

Two of the founders of the charity "Holy Land Foundation" have been imprisoned after being found guilty of sending funds to the terrorist organization Hamas. Hamas controls the Gaza Strip in the Palestinian territory. The defendants claimed none of the money they send to Hamas was for violence; rather the money was for social programs which Hamas has developed. The jury ruled the two guilty of supporting a terrorist organization; there was no way to tell if the money was used on social programs or diverted to militant causes.