Asia/Pacific

Congress and the administration are jointly calling for an investigation in the wake of the country's third nuclear test.

Your morning global affairs speed-read

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee meets today to mark up S. 298, the North Korea Nonproliferation and Accountability Act of 2013. The bill, which was held up by objections from Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Wednesday, calls on the Obama administration to seek more sanctions at the United Nations for Monday's nuclear test and for an international probe of North Korea's human rights violations.

Meanwhile, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-Calif.) and ranking member Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) introduce a bipartisan resolution calling on the administration to seek further sanctions. The resolution is expected to come to the floor on Friday.

Focus on Mali: Royce's committee holds a hearing this morning on “The Crisis in Mali: U.S. Interests and the International Response.” Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson and Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Amanda Dory will testify. Watch it online here.

Embassy security: The House Appropriations subpanel on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs is holding a closed hearing this morning on embassy security with Patrick Kennedy, the Under Secretary of State for Management.

High-level talks: A host of world leaders are in Washington today. 

President Obama called Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday to discuss North Korea’s recent nuclear test and reaffirm the U.S. security relationship with Tokyo.

Obama and Abe “pledged to work closely together to seek significant action at the United Nations Security Council and to cooperate on measures aimed at impeding North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs,” according to a White House readout of the call.

“President Obama reaffirmed that the United States remains steadfast in its defense commitments to Japan, including the extended deterrence offered by the U.S. nuclear umbrella,” the White House added.

President Barack Obama announced he would be slashing in half the total number of American troops in Afghanistan, down to just over 30,000, as part of the White House's efforts to end the over decade-long war by 2014. 

President Obama threatened repercussions, but experts warned there's really not much the United States can do about it.

President Obama and South Korean leader Lee Myung-bak condemned the "highly provocative violation of North Korea’s international obligations."

The president will detail his plan during Tuesday’s State of the Union address, according to a senior White House official.

Obama called the latest nuclear test a “threat to U.S. national security and to international peace and security.”

Ros-Lehtinen said a North Korea video showing the nuclear destruction of a U.S. city “illustrates Pyongyang’s hostile intentions."

Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio), an advocate for missile defense, accused the White House of being in a "dream-like trance."