@pilgrimshost,
Well just to update this post:
North Korea have detonated a warhead underground tiggering world wide political upheaval, South Korea have lost the oppotunity for talks with the North, Nato are questioning their aid to Nk and China have erged them to withfrain from any furthar 'provoking' of the coalition. The Pentagon have increased their military presance in Japan and South Korea to around 90'000 or so troops. And there are increased fears that any 'non military retaliation' (blockades, increased sanctions and freezing of assets) would cause an escallation leading to an armed stand off.
Washington hopes that this helps get the proposals for a 'sheild' to protect Japan from any future attacks hurried through the relivent courts. Also though the actual 'attack' may not come from NK, it is thought they would sell arms to 'unfriendly' groups or nations apposed to the coalition. So shipment searches are planed to be increased; Last year a tactical missile was intersepted by the Royal Navy after being tracked half way around the world, en route to the middle east. The source of it was in the far east seas near NK.