North Korea's Launches Rocket

The launch, which North Korea had given notice of, was to show Kim Jong-Il is powerful:

North Korea's propaganda machine will portray a successful launch as a mighty symbol of Kim Jong-il's leadership after a suspected stroke in August raised questions about his grip on power.

It will also be able to show off to all Koreans that it has launched a rocket to carry a satellite just ahead of the wealthy South, which hopes to launch one in July. Reuters

Obama's statement:

North Korea's development and proliferation of ballistic missile technology pose a threat to the northeast Asian region and to international peace and security. The launch today of a Taepo-dong 2 missile was a clear violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718, which expressly prohibits North Korea from conducting ballistic missile-related activities of any kind. With this provocative act, North Korea has ignored its international obligations, rejected unequivocal calls for restraint, and further isolated itself from the community of nations.

We will immediately consult with our allies in the region, including Japan and the Republic of Korea, and members of the U.N. Security Council to bring this matter before the Council. I urge North Korea to abide fully by the resolutions of the U.N. Security Council and to refrain from further provocative actions.

Preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery is a high priority for my administration. The United States is fully committed to maintaining security and stability in northeast Asia and we will continue working for the verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula through the Six-Party Talks. The Six-Party Talks provide the forum for achieving denuclearization, reducing tensions, and for resolving other issues of concern between North Korea, its four neighbors, and the United States. North Korea has a pathway to acceptance in the international community, but it will not find that acceptance unless it abandons its pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and abides by its international obligations and commitments.

Obama's reaction:

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Germany Urges Iran to Step Up

Obama put the word out -- the U.S. has a new approach to foreign policy and that already has brought change. The European Union has stepped up to help Obama close Guantanamo and now Germany is urging Iran to behave.

Xinhua: German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier urged on Friday Iran not to reject new U.S. President Barack Obama's offer to open direct talks on the country's nuclear program, saying diplomacy was the way to solve the dispute.

Obama has shifted U.S. policy on Iran since he took office on Jan. 20 and wanted to engage in "direct diplomacy" with Iran, according to the report of AP. "I think it is time for us to urge Iran and the Iranian leadership not to reject this hand," Steinmeier said in a speech to lawmakers on Friday and stressed the importance of "diplomatic solution" to settle Iran's nuclear issue.

The diplomats from the UN Security Council's permanent members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- plus Germany will meet "in the Frankfurt area" on Feb. 4, German Foreign Ministry spokesman Jens Ploetner said Friday.