North Korean Leader Kim Jong-Un Comes Out for Marriage Equality: VIDEO

In SNL's cold open last night, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un lifted the nation's ban on same-sex marriage because of a gay nephew:

"Watching him suffer unhappiness because of this policy affected me deeply. I still had to have him executed, but not because he was gay. It was because he was hosting a weekly book discussion group at his apartment. And here let me make one thing really clear. I have no personal stake in gay marriage one way or the other. I'm about as heterosexual as a person can be..."

Check it out, AFTER THE JUMP...

Anderson Cooper Confronts Baptist Leader Over Remarks Linking North Korean Threats to Gay Rights: VIDEO

On Moday I posted about Fred Luter, President of the Southern Baptist Convention, who said there is probably a connection between Kim Jong-un's sabre-rattling against the United States and the Supreme Court's consideration of marriage equality and the debate over gays in the Boy Scouts.

Said Luter:

“I’m not that strong in prophecy but I would not be surprised that there’s not a connection there simply because of the fact we’ve seen it happen in scripture before. I would not be surprised that at the time when we are debating same-sex marriage, at a time when we are debating whether or not we should have gays leading the Boy Scout movement, I don’t think it’s just a coincidence that we have a mad man in Asia who is saying some of the things that he’s saying.”

Anderson Cooper wanted to ask him if he stood by those remarks. Luter, of course, won't take responsibility for them.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Baptist Pastor Links North Korean War Threats to Gay Marriage, Debate Over Boy Scouts: AUDIO

Fred Luter, President of the Southern Baptist Convention, agreed with religious right talk show host Rick Wiles late last week that there is probably a connection between Kim Jong-un's sabre-rattling against the United States and the Supreme Court's consideration of marriage equality and the debate over gays in the Boy Scouts, Right Wing Watch reports:

Wiles: You know at precisely the same time the Supreme Court is hearing these arguments on same-sex marriage in Asia a crazy man in possession of nuclear weapons, Kim Jong-un, is openly saying: I have ordered our military to position our rockets on US targets in Hawaii, Japan, Guam and the mainland of the United States. He has gone into a full state of war this week. I don’t know, Pastor Luter, I don’t know if anybody is — I know they’re not — they’re just not putting this together. You got this happening over here and you got this happening over here: could the two be connected? Could our slide into immorality be what is unleashing this mad man over here in Asia to punish us?

Luter: It could be a possibility, I’m not that strong in prophecy but I would not be surprised that there’s not a connection there simply because of the fact we’ve seen it happen in scripture before. I would not be surprised that at the time when we are debating same-sex marriage, at a time when we are debating whether or not we should have gays leading the Boy Scout movement, I don’t think it’s just a coincidence that we have a mad man in Asia who is saying some of the things that he’s saying.

Listen, AFTER THE JUMP...

North Korea Conducts Third Nuclear Test: VIDEO

The international community reacted swiftly after a false earthquake in North Korea was confirmed to be a long-threatened third nuclear test, the NYT reports:

The KCNA said it used a “miniaturized and lighter nuclear device with greater explosive force than previously” and that the test “did not pose any negative impact on the surrounding ecological environment.”

The test drew a crescendo of international condemnation Tuesday, with President Obama calling it a “highly provocative act” that demands “swift and credible action by the international community” against North Korea. Russia, Britain, South Korea and the United Nations similarly quickly condemned the blast. The head of the international nuclear watchdog called the test “deeply regrettable”and the United Nations Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting at 9 a.m. New York time to take up the matter.

Preliminary estimates by South Korea suggested the test was much more powerful than the previous two conducted by the North.

The map at top shows the "earthquake" recorded early Tuesday. North Korea confirmed a "successful" nuclear test on State TV.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

North Korea Releases Propaganda Video Featuring Attack on U.S. City, 'We Are the World': VIDEO

North Korea's official website, Uriminzokkiri, uploaded a bizarre new propaganda video on Saturday.

The Telegraph explains:

The video is shot as a dream sequence, with a young man seeing himself on board a North Korean space shuttle launched into orbit by the same type of rocket Pyongyang successfully tested in December.

As the shuttle circles the globe - to the tune of "We Are the World" - the video zooms in on countries below, including a joyfully re-unified Korea.

In contrast, the focus then switches to a city - shrouded in the US flag - under apparent missile attack with its skyscrapers, including what appears to be the Empire State Building, either on fire or in ruins.

"Somewhere in the United States, black clouds of smoke are billowing," runs the caption across the screen.
"It seems that the nest of wickedness is ablaze with the fire started by itself," it added.

The video ends with the young man concluding that his dream will "surely come true".

"Despite all kinds of attempts by imperialists to isolate and crush us... never will anyone be able to stop the people marching toward a final victory," it said.

Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...

North Korea Launches Long Range Rocket, Claims to Put Satellite in Orbit: VIDEO

North Korea launched a long-range rocket and claimed to have launched a satellite into space yesterday, in a move that angered the world community, particularly South Korea and Japan, which the rocket's path traversed, NBC News reports:

U.S. officials told NBC News that it appeared the North Koreans had indeed launched an object, possibly a satellite, into space.

In a statement, the White House said the rocket launch was a highly provocative act that threatens regional security and violates U.N. resolutions. A spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he "deplores" the launch.

Ban said it was "all the more regrettable because it defies the unified and strong call from the international community." He added that he was "in close touch with the government concerned."

Missile warning systems detected the launch at 7:49 p.m. ET, and initial reports indicate that the first stage fell into the Yellow Sea. The second stage was predicted to fall into the Philippine Sea, according to a statement issued by the North American Aerospace Defense Command.

Pyongyang's official KCNA news agency said earlier that the rocket was fired from the Sohae Satellite Launch Center on the secretive country's west coast, and said that the Kwangmyongsong weather satellite went into orbit as planned.

Watch RT's report and the Japanese and South Korean reaction, AFTER THE JUMP...

The White House has condemned the launch. Said National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor:

"North Korea is only further isolating itself by engaging in such provocative acts. Devoting scarce resources to the development of ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons has not brought it security and acceptance by the international community — and never will. North Korea will only truly strengthen itself by abiding by international norms, living up to its commitments and international obligations, and working to feed its citizens, to educate its children, and to win the trust of its neighbors."