Despite a proposal by its southern neighbor on Monday, North Korea test-fired five more short-range missiles off its east coast. Thus continues the saber-rattling North Korea has been doing of late.

South Korea launched its first rocket blasted into space on Tuesday following an aborted attempt last week. Unlike rival's North Korea own launch, which months ago drew much international ire, the South's launch drew applause, not rancor.

North Korea's state media announced that after an unannounced visit by former U.S. President Bill Clinton, North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has pardoned American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee, and ordered their release.

The former U.S. president Bill Clinton arrived today in North Korea, seeking a release of two American journalists detained for illegal entry into the country. The U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and wife of Bill, had sought amnesty in July. White House says Clinton's trip to North Korea is "solely private." Just new reports are coming that Mr. Clinton met with North Korea's president Kim Jong-il.

On Monday, South Korean broadcaster YTN said, citing information gathered by Chinese and South Korean intelligence sources, that North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has pancreatic cancer and the illness may be terminal.

South Korea reported on Saturday that North Korea fired seven ballistic missiles off its eastern coast. The launches are a violation of U.N. resolutions and come on Fourth of July in the United States, perhaps serving as a message.

North Korea Threatens US - on Wednesday, North Korea threatened to "wipe out" the United States when discussing a potential war. The talks came as a result of a US ship tracking a North Korean vessel which was suspected of transporting illicit weapons to Burma. The threat from North Korea came directly after statements accusing the US of instigating a war.

Last Monday's nuclear test and subsequent missile launches have ramped up the stress level in Asia, and now, amidst rumors of two more missile launches being prepped, also comes the news that the North has chosen a successor to 67-year-old Kim Jong Il, his youngest son, Jong Un, 26.

One of the biggest foundations in the Unites States is contributing millions of dollars to promote peace efforts in Asia with some of that money going to build greater cooperation and ease tensions with North Korea.

One day after a nuclear test that drew global criticism, North Korea on Tuesday test-fired two short-range missiles, upping its rhetoric and leading many to ask "what does North Korea really want?" North Korea is testing not only missiles, but also the patience of the international community.