NEWS,08.04.2012.

North Korea planning third nuclear test - report

North Korea, pressing ahead with a rocket launch in defiance of a UN resolution, is reportedly preparing a third nuclear weapons test, a move bound to scare neighbours and infuriate the West.South Korea's Yonhap news agency quoted an unidentified intelligence source as saying North Korea was "clandestinely preparing a nuclear test" at the same location as the first two.The source added that workers in the destitute North had been seen in commercial satellite images digging a tunnel in the northeastern town of Punggye-ri, Kilju County, in addition to existing mines believed to have been used for tests in 2006 and 2009."We have confirmed the (mining) work is coming to its final stage," the source was quoted as saying.The satellite imagery showed piles of earth and sand at the entrance of the tunnel, Yonhap said.North Korea, which three years ago pulled out of six-party disarmament talks on its nuclear programme, agreed in February to stop nuclear tests, uranium enrichment and long-range missile launches in return for food aid, opening the way to a possible resumption of the negotiations.But that has all since unravelled with the North's rocket launch planned for this month, probably between Thursday and the following Monday. The North says it is merely sending a weather satellite into space, but South Korea and the United States say it is a ballistic missile test.Two previous launches of the long-range missile have failed, but Washington says the North's missile programme is progressing quickly and that the American mainland could come under threat within five years.US President Barack Obama last month called on North Korea to curb its nuclear ambitions or face further international isolation.He said North Korea could be hit with tighter sanctions if it goes ahead with the launch, but experts doubt China will back another UN Security Council resolution against it.China, Japan and South Korea, three of the "six parties" along with the United States and the two Koreas, on Sunday expressed concern over the planned launch.The foreign ministers of the three countries, ending their annual meeting with a joint news conference in the coastal Chinese city of Ningbo, largely stuck to established positions."China expresses our concern for the development of the situation and urges all relevant parties to take into consideration the bigger picture and think long-term," Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said.Obama has urged China to use its influence to rein in North Korea instead of "turning a blind eye" to its "deliberate provocations".Japan and South Korea reiterated warnings that Pyongyang would face international consequences if it went ahead with the launch."I made it clear that the international community needs to make rigorous responses against North Korea's violation of its obligation as a member country in the world community," South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan said.Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba said the launch would roll back progress Pyongyang has made in talks with various countries, including with the United States, which has suspended the planned food aid.

Chavez boosts minimum wage ahead of election

President Hugo Chavez hiked Venezuela's minimum wage by almost a third as the ailing socialist leader aimed to solidify his political base among the poor and win re-election in October.Chavez is flying back and forth for cancer treatment in Cuba, fueling doubts about his future and removing himself from the daily political debate as his rival, state Governor Henrique Capriles, pushes ahead with a national campaign tour.But the 57-year-old president has managed to maintain a strong lead over the opposition candidate in most recent opinion polls, based on his enduring emotional connection with Venezuela's poor majority - and heavy state spending."In the 1980s and 90s, the minimum wage was basically frozen, then inflation went through the roof... we've been working on this for several weeks," Chavez said, unveiling the pay hike during a televised cabinet meeting hours before leaving for Havana and a third round of radiation therapy.Ahead of the October 7 presidential election, his government has launched many projects, or "missions", including one that aims to build hundreds of thousands of homes, and others that provide cash handouts to the elderly and to poor families with children.The 32.25% pay increase will take effect in two stages, on May 1 and Sept 1, and will bring the minimum monthly wage to about US$475 at the official exchange rate.Looking reasonably well and speaking with a strong voice, Chavez said almost 4 million workers would benefit.Very little is known about Chavez's condition, including what type of cancer he is suffering. He has undergone three operations in less than a year and says he is recovering well, but rumors persist that he is more ill than has been admitted.During an emotional speech at a pre-Easter Mass on Thursday with his family looking on from the congregation, the president wept and called on God to spare his life.Given that Chavez is out of the Venezuela for several days each week at the moment, he appears to be at pains to show that he remains in full control of the government and is working hard ahead of the vote on October 7.