A conflict that has been brewing for months between North Korea and the United States grew more intense last week. An unarmed American surveillance plane over the Sea of Japan was threatened by four North Korean fighter jets. No shots were fired, and the American jet arrived safely at a base in Japan. But the aggressive move has worsened relations between the two nations.
The U.S and North Korea have been at odds over the Asian country's refusal to shut down its nuclear power plants (see TFK 1/17/03). The U.S. believes the country already has one or two nuclear weapons and could be making more.
The latest threat by North Korea led the U.S. to increase its military presence in the region. Two dozen bomber planes were sent to U.S. bases on the Pacific island of Guam.
But President Bush thinks the conflict can be resolved through talks, not military action. Last week, he urged countries in the region like Russia, China and South Korea to "join us in convincing North Korea that it is not in their nation's interest to be threatening the U.S., or anybody else, with a nuclear weapon."