Conveniently being tried after North Korea's recent missile/nuke tests (they've been held for months), 2 US Journalists charged with illegally crossing into the communist state, have been sentenced to 12 years in a labor camp.
Despite the administration taking a hard stance, it's definitely quite interesting to see North Korea keep raising the stakes. With neither side backing down, the US has already said they are looking to intercept NK ships that may have weapons/nuke materials which will really raise the pressure.
It will be interesting to see if we keep upping the pressure or not. Something like intercepting North Korean ships would be high stakes, but also more likely to work rather than sanctions. (but by all means, sanctions are a good thing) As well, Obama is looking into a legal way to reverse the Bush decision of removing North Korea from the terrorist supporting list.
As always with North Korea, it's about limits and what each side is trying to achieve and how it's going to cool down. This time both have no intentions of backing down or making concessions which makes things more dangerous and more uncertain. North Korea is determined to be in the "Nuke Club" and build a respectable weapons armada, of course the US wants nothing of this for 1. North Korea with Nukes isn't a good idea and 2. An arms race, which seems more and more likely with the increasing aggressiveness by NK.
We'll stay tuned and hope for the journalists to be released as soon as possible.