The U.S. and other countries, most notably Korea's close neighbor Japan, are deeply worried by the North's long-range ballistic-missile program, which Pyongyang has put on hold but not abandoned.

CNN: ASIANOW - TIME Asia | Korea: Korea's Big Show

Security Council last year condemned North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket, saying it violated a resolution banning ballistic missile testing.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS