NORTH KOREA

PlanetArk.org: N Korea Sees September 9 As Deadline For US Action
TOKYO -- North Korea is prepared to declare itself a nuclear state unless the United States responds positively to its proposals for resolving a row over Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions by Sept. 9 -- the anniversary of the communist country's founding, diplomatic sources in Tokyo said.
One source with close ties to Pyongyang told Reuters that the North was ready to declare itself officially a member of the nuclear club, opening the way for possible nuclear tests and increased production of weapons. "North Korea will move on to possess nuclear weapons and declare itself a nuclear state if the United States fails to respond to its proposals before September 9," he said.