| The State Department says North Korea's plan to | | | | on the agenda. |
| test a nuclear weapon is an "unacceptable threat" | | | | An unofficial deadline expires this week for Iran to |
| to world peace and stability. A department | | | | stop enriching uranium, at least temporarily, in line |
| spokesman traveling with the secretary of state | | | | with a United Nations demand. |
| in the Middle East said such a move will only | | | | For their parts, Washington's Arab allies are |
| further isolate North Korea. | | | | pushing the U.S. to help revitalize the moribund |
| State Department spokesman Sean McCormack | | | | Israeli-Palestinian peace process. |
| said a nuclear test by North Korea would pose | | | | After meeting with Rice in Jeddah, Saudi Foreign |
| what he called "an unacceptable threat to peace | | | | Minister Saud al-Faisal called the Israeli-Palestinian |
| and stability in Asia and the world." | | | | conflict the "core problem" in the Middle East, |
| In a statement issued in Cairo, the State | | | | comparing it to a disease weakening the entire |
| Department spokesman said it would be a | | | | region. |
| "provocative" and "reckless action." Pyongyang | | | | Rice called for an end to the factional violence |
| says it is being forced into making the test by | | | | that has rocked the Palestinian Territories over |
| what it calls a U.S. "threat of nuclear war and | | | | the last two days. She said innocent Palestinian |
| sanctions." | | | | civilians are being caught up in the middle of |
| North Korea's surprise announcement came as | | | | fighting between rival security forces loyal to |
| Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was | | | | Fatah and Hamas. She called on all parties to stop |
| traveling through the Middle East in an effort to | | | | the violence. |
| gain Arab support for sanctions against Iran over | | | | While she is in Cairo, Rice is also scheduled to |
| its nuclear program. | | | | meet with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, and |
| The secretary arrived in Cairo from Saudi Arabia | | | | with intelligence chief Omar Suleiman, who is a |
| Tuesday for talks with the foreign ministers of | | | | key mediator between Israelis and the |
| eight of Washington's closest allies in the Arab | | | | Palestinians. |
| world - Egypt, Jordan and the six-nation Gulf | | | | She then travels on to Israel for talks with Israeli |
| Cooperation Council. Iran's nuclear program is high | | | | and Palestinian leaders. |