Launch a Preemptive Nuclear strike against the united states. It is the latest escalation in the ongoing war of words. Both the north and south have traded threats of military action in recent days. In a few hours, the United NationsSecurity Council votes on new sanctions against north korea. The resolution is a response to pyongyangs Third Nuclear test in february. A show of solidarity in pyongyang just hours after the vote at the United Nations. Tens of thousands of North Koreans gathered in the capital to protest against the sanctions. Top officials told the crowds that north korea was ready to act. As long as the u. S. Imperialists are turning upon us with nuclear weapons, we will also make a counterattack with diversified, many to rise, and Precision Nuclear weapons. Pyongyang has also balked at joint military exercises between south korea and the united states. About 10,000 u. S. Soldiers are taking part in the drills. North korea accused the countries of preparing an attack. In response, pyongyang threatens to cancel the pyongyang armistice ending the korean war, and it said it would retaliate with a more powerful and precise attack. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have spiked in recent weeks. The north Korean Leader has dashed hopes of reconciliation, resorting instead to threats and provocations. In december, pyongyang launched a longrange rocket, and last month, it staged another nuclear test. Now, the United NationsSecurity Council was expected to put its foot down. Even pyongyangs closest ally, china, is on board. We are now joined in the studio. Is this political brinkmanship by north korea, or do we need to take the threats seriously . We have to differentiate between a technical point of view. It has developed nuclear warheads, but only to a limited degree and has a limited Ballistic Missile capability, which is not capable to reach the continental united states. Politically, there are increase tensions and the Korean Peninsula, which have risen of the past few months. Why the threat . Is it not make the country look ridiculous if it does not have the capability . It illustrates the isolation of the communist leadership in north korea. Nuclear weapons are more or less political weapons used to put political pressure on other policy. In this case, south korea, the united states, and even china, as a member of the United NationsSecurity Council. China is supporting this in the United Nations. How significant is that . China is one of the biggest losers in the last couple of months. We are operating under the assumption that china can influence north korea. North korea has become a liability for Chinese ForeignSecurity Policy in the region. You mentioned before the isolation of north korea. Does this make the nation feel cornered and under pressure to take some sort of action . Strange as it may sound, i think it is more a sign of weakness than strength, and it illustrates how isolated the leadership is and how much it has to rest on the power of the military class in north korea. Thank you very much for that analysis. Frantic diplomatic efforts are under way to secure the efforts of 21 United Nations peacekeepers taken hostage by a syrian rebel group. They are being held in Golan Heights where there were put on a mission to monitor the Syrian Border area. They have been ordered to treat them as enemy prisoners. The rebels purportedly posted this video on the internet at the kidnapping the United Nations troops. The rebel group calls itself the martyrs of the armored brigade, and they accuse the peacekeepers of working with the syrian government. They say that is the only reason the government has been able to station troops near the Golan Heights. We are holding the United NationsDisengagement Observer force until a shock assad withdraws from the skirts of the village. The village has been the scene of heavy fighting between rebels and Government Troops in recent days. It is close to the ceasefire line between israel and syria. Israel has occupied the Golan Heights since 1967, a move condemned by the United Nations. The peacekeeping mission has been in place since the 1970s. The Security Council has condemned the kidnapping. Family members of the Security Council demanded the unconditional and Immediate Release of all the detained United Nations peacekeepers and called upon all parties to cooperate in good faith to ensure security of its personnel. The mission has dispatched a team to diffuse the matter and prevent the conflict from widening. Our correspondent is following that story and joins us now from jerusalem. Could the conflict widened . How worried are these developments for israel . Bamut is real is certainly very closely watching these events right now, but there has been a certain reluctance in commenting on the situation, but the Israeli Government has made clear that they will not accept any spillover of violence on to their side of the ceasefire line of the occupied Golan Heights. I think what appeals to us is the smaller as they call Islamist Groups affiliated with al qaeda or other terrorist groups, which use the ongoing chaos and tried to infiltrate onto their territory to get hold that is the discussion in israel because it could mean that a new front for israel is open in a region that used to be rather quiet over the past decade. Are questions being asked about if this hostagetaking, could undermine the oppositions credibility . It shows the difficulty in dealing with all the different groups that are right now operating in syria. We understand the mission is in contact with this particular rebel group in order to secure the release of the peacekeepers, but it is not clear if the leaders of the Syrian Opposition have enough influence over these groups and if they can actually mediate over the question about the demands of these rebels because it is difficult to fulfill them as a mutual mission. Thank you very much for that update. Back to europe now, and italys former Prime Minister, silvio berlusconi, has been handed a 1year jail sentence. That does not mean he is heading behind bars. Thats right. A court found berlusconi guilty of publishing leaked transcript of a police wiretap in a newspaper that he owns. Berlusconi can appeal the conviction. He faces two more Court Hearings this month for tax fraud and for sex with an underage prostitutes. In venezuela, thousands of mourners turned out to pay their respects for the late president , hugo chavez. His body now lies in state at the military academy in caracas. He died after a twoyear battle with cancer. Under the constitution, venezuela must now hold an election within 30 days. His death has sparked an outpouring of grief and sorrow among his supporters. Venezuelans saying a final farewell to their former leader. They filed past the casket quickly to make way for the tens of thousands still waiting outside. Many are still taken aback by the news. If i did not see it, i would not believe it because i could not believe such a strong, courageous man had passed away, but it is so. I feel bad because he was loved. My family and i really loved the president. If it were not for the president , we would not have a decent apartment. Chavez was a key figure in latin american politics. Fellow leaders from across the region have come to caracas to join in the morning mourning. Chavezs funeral will take place on friday. The country must hold an election within 30 days. Polls suggest the Vice President will win, yet the opposition already questions the fairness of the vote. The anniversary of the fukushima disaster is approaching. Hundreds of thousands of displaced people in japan are still living in temporary housing. There are also concerns about the longterm impact of the catastrophe. Particularly about the consequences for children. What will happen to children living in the shadow of the Fukushima Nuclear plant . Experts are not sure. Experts say any increased cancer rate would be too small to detect, but others say it still too early to draw conclusions. In the case of chernobyl, Thyroid Cancer started to appear four or five years later. It does not show up straightaway. Long term, even more than 25 years on, there are still cases of Thyroid Cancer appearing in chernobyl. The Group International physicians for the prevention of nuclear war has conducted their own survey, and they fear many more children could be affected. We would predict that 25 of the 55,000 children, are around 14,000 of the children that we examined, could develop Thyroid Cancer during the next eight to 10 years. The Physicians Group also expects cancer rates throughout japan to increase markedly. But the United Nationsbacked study disagrees. However, experts did agree further opposition further investigation will be needed for years to come. Germans could be facing Higher Energy bills. Since 2011, Industrial Power users in germany have saved hundreds of millions of euros a year. Because have been passed on to german consumers until now. The European Commission is also looking into if the government local amounts to a hidden subsidy of german furloughs. Reports on a gang shootings and riots have received pulitzer prizes, but this photographer says this is the most important work she has ever done. The exhibition women and war is going on display in berlin. This woman lost three sons. Setsukos body was badly burned in the hiroshima bombing. For the past 20 years, melissa roth has traveled the world, documented how war changes the lives of women. She arrives when the fighting is over and most other journalists have moved on. Theres no blood and no guns just a silent record of suffering. I see these women as survivors. I do not see any of them as victims, but they have to live their entire lives and future lives of their children and grandchildren with the backdrop of war. Some more active in war themselves. Martina anderson was a convicted ira bomber. Now she is working for peace. All the women are named. Marissa knows each ones story, but it is only now that she has begun to process the pain. It just hit me like a ton of bricks. I thought i was having a heart attack one day, and i realized it was all this emotion. It was like backing up, i almost could not breathe. Finally, ive been crying. Widow, raped, scarred by war, and yet, determined not to give up. She says all these women are heroes. At the end of the exhibition, she serves shows laughter and young women, the next generation hoping for a better future. You are watching the journal on dw. Stay with us. Welcome back. 26 countries are part of the reset it to be set free zone in europe. Bulgaria is also key to be part of it. The interior ministry in brussels are expected to defer a decision until later this year. Both countries are said to of met most technical requirements required by the eu. But some members including germany strongly oppose the accession just yet. They fled poverty in the hope of a better life, but germanys interior minister fears too many would follow if rumanians and bulgarians were granted passport free travel in europe. It is those doubts from berlin that led to the postponement of a vote on admitting the two countries. There are still shortcomings in some areas. Especially in the way the judiciary works. That means we are unable to say, remove the border checks. Let me be quite clear the time has not yet come. Romania and bulgaria have been eu member since 2007, but because of opposition from germany and others, the issue of membership is off the agenda until the end of the year. The countries reject the criticism and say they have made progress in the fight against corruption and organized crime. We want an agreement in the future that allows bulgaria and romania to join the shannons own. We have fulfilled all the criteria for membership two years ago. Europe without borders for some. Others, that is the message from brussels, will just have to wait. Coming of, a new look for a very old attraction in San Francisco. First, a roundup of other news making the headlines. The party of a leading candidate in kenyas president ial election has called for a vote counting to be stopped because of what he says are irregularities. The running mate of the Prime Minister has told a News Conference that he has evidence some results have been doctored. A russian dancer accused of masterminding an acid attack on the artistic director of the bolshoi ballet has admitted to giving the goahead for the assault, but he denies ordering anyone to throw acid, saying he had agreed to have him beaten up. A powerful earthquake has hit taiwan. The 5. 6 magnitude quake struck near sydney in the east, causing buildings in the capital to sway, though no reports of damage or casualties. A plane crashed in northern peru has killed all nine passengers and crew. The plane hit power lines in bad weather on its approach to land a. The plane was carrying workers for a gold mining company. Business news now, and the eurozones recession is likely to worsen before it gets any better. That is according to the latest forecast from the European Central bank. The ecb chief says the bank will revise its expectations down words for the eurozone economy. Expecting a contraction of 0. 5 this year, but he said a gradual recovery would begin later this year. Draghi also announced that the ecb was keeping Interest Rates unchanged at a record low of 0. 75 . Reaction now from our correspondent in frankfurt. I do not like the looks of digraph in the background. Yes. I do not like it either. It looks more dramatic, though, that it is. The dax plunged around 30 points a couple of minutes ago. This drop had to do with statements of mario draghi at that press conference. He keeps holding here in frankfurt. He said something about the recapitalization of the banks. He said that it would be a good idea to include creditors of the banks when it comes to recapitalization and for people on the markets, this means cyprus. This means that after euro finance ministers have decided on helping cyprus and its banks, this does not mean that the private creditors and owners of these banks are at it again with their money. They might have to take part in that recapitalization. That is not something that is pleasing people here. In terms of monetary policy, druggy did not have many new things to say. Big corporations in germany out with results. Any trends emerging . Yes, there is one trend. Companies are doing a lot to please investors raising dividends, buying back shares, cost cutting. They are not saying exactly where their businesses are really heading, so the outlooks for their core businesses are not very convincing at the moment. Still, investors are buying some of these shares. The dax pretty much unchanged. Euro stoxx 50 Index Trading slightly higher. The euro is heading towards 1. 31 again. An unfortunate story now theres been a dramatic twist into the investigation into an italian bank over alleged corruption and fraud. An official was discovered dead late on wednesday. The 14th century headquarters of the bank. David rossis body was found here over night lying in a side street beneath his office. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Prosecutors are investigating weather it was suicide. The italian media are already convinced it was. Investigators have searched his home and office 10 days ago as part of a probe into the bank into allegations of fraud and corruption. The probe is focusing on how hundreds of millions of euros went missing in a complex acquisition deal and risky derivative trades dating to 2006. The bank won approval last month for a 3. 9 billion euro bailout from the government to keep it afloat. The case has angered many ordinary italians as they struggle to make ends meet following successive government austerity measures. A change of pace now, and it is our chance to show off a lot of shiny new cars to you. The Geneva International motor show has opened its doors to the public. Some automakers fear it could take years, that has not stopped them from rolling out the blank. People are in two minds about this car. Bmw calls it the grantor is no and is selling it as a new model. It is based on the three series, but the gt is noticeably bigger and more expensive. For years, the bavarian car maker has been developing successful niche models based on established lines, customized for the target market, they generate hefty profits. In the u. S. , saudi arabia, and asia, bmw knows how to please customers with deep pockets. A lot of decisions during our strategy in 2007, we decided to build a new plant in china and double our u. S. Capacity. We also decided on new products. If you want them in 2013, you have to make the decisions five or six years in advance, and that is what we did. The chinese car maker is trying again to establish itself in europe. The Company Hopes to avoid previous mistakes with the help of german executives this time around. They want to market an entirely new brand in china and europe using more traditional designs. European Safety Standards and asian labor costs. The government decided to develop some global manufacturers who can match the established players, and, of course, the most important market in europe is germany. You can say that if you make it here, you can make it anywhere. But the ceo of audi takes issue with the name of the car. He has filed a lawsuit because for years, it has meant offroad at audi. We put a lot of energy into establishing the brand. It is logical that we test that in a court of law. Mercedes is not interested in fuel economy right now. It prefers money, and that is easiest to make with luxury and sports cars. Instead of electric motors, it is marketing deceptive power packs like this with its 360 break hp kick. Cars like that also boost the companys sometimes static image. An automobile remains an emotional product, and keeping these emotions running at high levels is a recipe for success. Agree that 2013 will be a difficult year, but the optimists among them say the worst will be over by next year. Runcie will go through on aggregate. Finally, the Golden Gate Bridge is without doubt San Franciscos most famous landmark and draws thousands of tourists every year. But right now, another bridge in the city is stealing the limelight. For decades, the San Francisco oakland bay bridge has been derided for its drab design until this week. Dusk falls over San Francisco, and the citys bay bridge comes out of the shadows. It is being billed as the largest eliminated sculpture in the world theill illuminated sculpture. Each of the thousands of lights program, allowing an almost infinite array of patterns. My goal is to create a communal experience. It becomes a digital campfire that people can gather around. His team for the lights to the suspension cables more than 150 meters up in the air. It was back in 1936 that the bridge was first opened to great acclaim, but just five months later, it lost the limelight with the opening of the more majestic Golden Gate Bridge. Now after more than 75 years being outshone by its clamorous neighbor, San Franciscos other bridge is finally getting a chance to shine. The lights will now come on every night for the next two years. That is it for us. Thank you very much for being with us. Captioned by the National Captioning Institute www. Ncicap. Org