The United States has never seen eye to eye with North Korea. But in recent weeks, relations between the two nations have taken a sharp turn for the worse.
The poor but heavily armed country in Asia appears to be on its way to building nuclear weapons. This would violate both a 1994 treaty with the U.S. and a United Nations treaty signed by 187 countries.
The trouble began last month, when North Korea's dictator, Kim Jong Il, opened nuclear power plants that had been closed since 1994. North Korean officials say that they are using the plants to make electricity, but products from these plants could be used to make weapons. Kim also threw U.N. weapons inspectors out of the country.
Last week, both the U.N. and the U.S. tried to get Kim to back down. The U.N. gave him just a few weeks to allow inspectors back in. Otherwise, it could block billions of dollars in aid that North Korea badly needs.
President Bush has offered to begin talks to resolve the conflict. The U.S. is also relying on its allies in the region, South Korea and Japan, to help contain the threat. "I believe this will be resolved peacefully," said Bush. By last Friday, though, North Korea had still not agreed to formal talks.
A LOOK AT NORTH KOREA
Capital: Pyongyang
Area: 46,540 square miles (about the size of Mississippi)
Population: 22,224,195 (2002)
History: Korea became a nation in 1948, when World War II ended and Japan pulled out of the region. North and South Korea became separate countries in 1950. The North promptly invaded the South. The Korean War lasted until 1953. The U.S. has helped protect South Korea ever since.
Government: The country is run by a strict, Communist dictator, Kim Jong Il. He took over in 1994, after the death of his father, North Korea's first president., Kim Il Song.
Economy: North Korea has few industries and has suffered through nine years of food shortages. It relies on international aid to avoid mass starvation. Most of the government's budget goes toward the military.