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American Morning

North Korea Confirms Nuke Test; China Faces Delicate Challenge; Colin Powell Fires Back on Debate Over GOP's Future; Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen Discusses North Korea, Pakistan, Meaning of Memorial Day; Bankruptcy Looms for General Motors

Aired May 25, 2009 - 07:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: And it is 7:00 here in New York on this Memorial Day, Monday, May 25th. I'm Kiran Chetry along with T.J. Holmes. Thanks for being with us.

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning to you all. Several breaking stories this morning. Here's what we have on tap, the big stories we'll be breaking down in the next few minutes.

First, North Korea, claiming it successfully tested a nuclear bomb late last night and reportedly test firing several short-range missiles as well. This morning, that's raising new security questions for the U.S. and allies in the region. An emergency meeting could happen later today at the U.N.

CNN all over the story. We're going to take you to the Pentagon, Beijing, as well as Washington. Our global resources also working a story from the region as well. And from Washington, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mike Mullen, will also be here with his reaction to North Korea's test.

Also, the former Secretary of State Colin Powell, he's firing back at Rush Limbaugh as well as the former vice president, Dick Cheney. He's responding to their questions about his loyalty to the Republican Party, and he has a warning for Republicans about the future.

We'll continue now talking about our big breaking story this morning.

And the White House condemning North Korea after it said it successfully conducted an underground nuclear test. This morning, South Korea's official news agency reports the North also test fired three short-range missiles.

Last night's nuclear blast was reportedly more powerful than the country's first test back in 2006. In fact, Russia, comparing the size of the latest explosion to the U.S. atomic bombs that hit Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II. At this hour, allies, enemies, neighbors, all firing a barrage of criticism at Pyongyang over its test. And we're tapping into the global resource of CNN.

Our Barbara Starr live at the Pentagon for us this morning. Emily Chang live in Beijing, China. Also, Jill Dougherty live in Washington with reaction from the White House.

We'll start with you, Barbara. The latest word from the Pentagon there, and it might take a little while at least to even confirm exactly what happened there.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: T.J., that is exactly what we're hearing from senior U.S. military officials throughout the night that it may be Wednesday before the U.S. military and the U.S. intelligence community can come to a final determination about what happened.

This is the same site where North Korea previously tested a nuclear device. Seismic activity was detected. But there are a number of land base centers in the region. There are also air force assets that will fly overhead taking air samples, analyze all this very complex data and try to come to a final determination was it a nuclear device and what size was it.

Now, at this hour, the U.S. says it has no reason to doubt North Korea's claim but they still want to go through this process and see exactly what they're dealing with. As for any U.S. military response, don't expect one.

There are U.S. forces always in the region but this is really now a diplomatic issue, we are told, expect to see a lot of jawboning across the pacific and at the United Nations -- T.J.

HOLMES: All right. Barbara Starr for us from the Pentagon. Barbara, thank you so much this morning.

CHETRY: The nuclear test conducted by North Korea is likely to anger China, but getting the Chinese to back tough sanctions against the North could be challenging.

We tap into the global resources again of CNN and headline to Beijing. Our Emily Chang is there right now.

And, Emily, as a neighbor and really possibly one of the only allies of North Korea, explain what type of delicate spot this puts China in.

EMILY CHANG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kiran, a very delicate spot indeed.

Just minutes ago, we got the first official statement from the Chinese government in response to this reported nuclear test. And I will read a portion of it to you. It says, "The DPRK disregarded the opposition of the international community. The Chinese government expresses firm opposition to this. Upholding the peace and stability in Northeast Asia is in the mutual interest of all parties. China calls on all parties to keep calm, deal with the situation appropriately and solve problems peacefully through discussions and dialogue."

Now, other nations were very quick to condemn this reported nuclear test. China took several hours to release this statement, so we can assume it was carefully crafted. And that is because China is North Korea's closest ally and some people say that this nuclear test is a major embarrassment to China, a huge foreign policy dilemma that could seriously undermine their relationship.

Others say that China is probably privately very upset about this, but publicly not that surprised and will urge the international community to maintain calm. Indeed, last month when North Korea test fired that rocket, China was the one that urged the international community not to overreact. It seems like they're trying to assume that role again this time around to get North Korea to come back to the bargaining table to try to solve this problem through dialogue -- Kiran.

CHETRY: Emily Chang for us in Beijing this morning. Thank you.

HOLMES: And CNN's Jill Dougherty following the reaction from the White House in Washington for us this morning.

Jill, hello to you. Are they being measured in the response until we know more?

JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN FOREIGN AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Well, they're measured, but they've been measured before. But I would say you can hear a sense of frustration in the statement by President Obama, certainly.

He's saying, "These actions, while not a surprise, given its statements and actions to date, are a matter of grave concern to all nations." And then he goes on in this print statement, "By acting in blatant defiance of the United Nations Security Council, North Korea is directly and recklessly challenging the international community."

And there is some frustration because after all, just about three weeks ago, the administration was saying that it would be willing to go ahead with one-on-one talks with North Korea if it would bring them back to the Six-party talks. So it didn't happen. The Six-party talks really are dead in the water. And the U.S. is saying, look, we're going to do that, not instead of Six-party talks but we'll go this extra step to make it happen.

They also have a special envoy, Stephen Bosworth, who has been going around the region talking with members of the Six-party talks, not directly with North Korea, but with everybody else pushing to bring this back on track. And now this happens.

So the next question is what can they do? Obviously, they can go to the U.N. They can have more sanctions, but they've already imposed sanctions. And the experts that we're talking with are saying that there is the internal component.

What we've been reporting on from the region and from here, Kim Jong-Il last year having a stroke and now people looking at the succession. And people behind the scenes jockeying and also trying to look as tough as they can on the North Korean side.

HOLMES: All right. Jill Dougherty for us in Washington this morning following our breaking story.

Jill, we thank you as always.

CHETRY: And last night's test is not North Korea's first act at nuclear activity. Here's more now in an "AM Extra."

The country actually conducted its first nuclear test back in 2006. A year later, it bowed to global pressure and agreed to close its main nuclear reactor in exchange for international aid. Last year, the North also destroyed a cooling tower that played a big role in its nuclear program.

Just last month, however, the country revived international concern when it went ahead with a rocket launch. The North said it was simply trying to put a satellite into space. Critics, though, say it was cover for a long-range missile test.

Coming up here on the Most News in the Morning, an interview you're going to want to hear especially this morning. We're talking with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen. He will join us live and give us his take on North Korea's nuclear test.

We'll also be following North Korea's story with our guests and correspondents all morning long. If there's something you'd like to ask us and ask them, let us know. Head to our Web site CNN.com/amFIX. You can also send us an e-mail to our Twitter page, twitter.com/amFIX.

Also new this morning, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to announce partners of gay U.S. diplomats will soon become eligible to receive the same benefits by partners of straight diplomats. It's a policy that the Bush administration resisted. When it takes effect, unmarried partners of diplomats will get paid travel, moving expenses for overseas posts, and evacuation services in case of security or medical emergencies.

Three small planes breached restricted air space near Camp David yesterday while the president and his family were vacationing there. The military says an F-15 intercepted each of them and the planes had just "nicked," as they say, the temporary no-fly zone. The violations are being called minor.

And former Secretary of State Colin Powell has a message for Republicans who question his allegiance to the party. What he had to say to Rush Limbaugh and Dick Cheney.

It's eight minutes past the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHETRY: Welcome back to the Most News in the Morning. Ten minutes now past the hour. A check of some of the other stories new this morning.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is vowing that more homes will be built in existing Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. An Israeli official said the prime minister made the announcement during a weekly meeting with his cabinet. That's despite a call from President Obama for against any expansion of those settlements.

Well now that the seven shuttle crew members are finally back home, NASA is calling their mission a total success. The space agency says the crew adding years to the life of the Hubble Space Telescope during the five spacewalks last week. They were supposed to come home Friday. Bad weather, though, delaying their return forcing them to land in California yesterday.

And it's been a memorable month for Helio Castroneves. The Brazilian race car driver captured his third Indy 500 victory yesterday.

He cried after the race. He was overwhelmed by the win just a month after being acquitted of tax evasion charges that could have ended his career. He's going to share his emotional roller coaster journey with us when he joins us live in the next hour here on AMERICAN MORNING -- T.J.

HOLMES: Well, Kiran, now it's his turn.

General Colin Powell has something to say to Dick Cheney and Rush Limbaugh. The former secretary of state would like them to know this, he's still a Republican. Powell appeared on CBS's "Face the Nation" yesterday and he had plenty to say two weeks after his party royalty was called into question.

Jim Acosta in Washington now on this.

And Jim, he's having to defend his what? His Republican street credit, if you will.

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, T.J. Members of the Bush administration have left office but they haven't really left, have they?

On this Memorial Day weekend, the man who is arguably America's most popular living general fired back, breaking his silence to take on former Vice President Dick Cheney on closing down Guantanamo and opening up the Republican Party.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GEN. COLIN POWELL (RET.) U.S. ARMY, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: I'm what people call, oh, heavens, a moderate Republican.

ACOSTA (voice-over): Colin Powell insists he's still a Republican no matter what Dick Cheney says.

DICK CHENEY, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: My take on it was Colin had already left the party. I didn't know he was still a Republican.

POWELL: Neither he nor Rush Limbaugh are members of the membership committee of the Republican Party. I get to make my decision on that.

ACOSTA: The former secretary of state sounded moderate to the core, noting he had voted for Reagan and both Bushes, as well as Kennedy, Johnson, Carter and Obama. Powell says it's the GOP that should do some soul searching not him.

POWELL: The Republican Party is losing. North, south, east, west, men, women, whites, blacks, Hispanics, and I think the Republican Party has to take a hard look at itself and decide what kind of party are we.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The Guantanamo will be closed.

ACOSTA: Powell revealed he has consulted with President Obama on Guantanamo.

POWELL: So I felt Guantanamo should be closed for the past six years.

ACOSTA: But he also criticized the president's move to shut down the detention camp without telling Congress how he'd do it?

POWELL: I think President Obama didn't handle it very well by going up to the Congress and asking for $80 million without a plan.

ACOSTA: On the Bush administration's use of harsh interrogation methods, Powell insisted their primary purpose was to prevent terrorist attacks.

POWELL: If we had another attack like 9/11, say on 9/11 a year later, nobody would have forgiven us.

ACOSTA: One of Powell's closest confidants says the retired general is still reluctant to speak out on his years in the Bush administration and is still haunted by his flawed presentation to the United Nations on the war in Iraq.

LAWRENCE WILKERSON, FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF FOR POWELL: It's difficult to say, on a personal basis that you were a part of such an episode.

ACOSTA: But Powell is gaining allies in the GOP's war of words. Former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge rejected a key Cheney talking point.

JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Do you believe we are less safe today because of steps taken by President Obama?

TOM RIDGE, FORMER HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: I do not.

KING: You disagree with Dick Cheney then?

RIDGE: I disagree with Dick Cheney.

(END VIDEOTAPE) ACOSTA: Colin Powell's model for the Republican Party? The late former Congressman and vice presidential candidate Jack Kemp, a principled conservative, Powell noted, who also reached out to minority voters.

And another key Bush administration figure, T.J., who also chimed in over the weekend, Karl Rove says he would take Rush Limbaugh over Colin Powell.

HOLMES: Well, probably not a surprise to a lot of folks there. Jim Acosta for us this morning.

ACOSTA: I don't think so.

HOLMES: Thank you so much.

ACOSTA: You bet.

CHETRY: Well, we're following breaking news this morning. North Korea claiming it tested a nuclear bomb. The president calling it a matter of grave concern.

Are military options on the table? We're going to talk to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff live.

It's 15 minutes past the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

CHETRY: Welcome back to the Most News in the Morning. If you're just waking up, we're tracking breaking news out of North Korea this morning.

The secretive communist state is on the receiving end of a global backlash after it claims it conducted a nuclear test earlier today. Pyongyang threatened this test after the U.N. Security Council slapped the country with sanctions for a rocket test early last month. The White House this morning saying, "North Korea is directly and recklessly challenging the international community."

South Korea media is also reporting that they test fired a total of three short-range missiles, conducting an underground nuclear test.

Let's talk about how the U.S. will respond. Are military options on the table?

Joining us now is Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff live from the Pentagon this morning.

Thanks for being with us this morning, Admiral Mullen.

ADMIRAL MIKE MULLEN, CHAIRMAN, U.S. JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF: Good morning, Kiran.

CHETRY: From a military standpoint, what is your reaction to word that North Korea, indeed, did test fire a nuclear bomb?

MULLEN: Well, we weren't surprised because of the recent statements by North Korean leadership that they intended to do this. As you know, they also recently launched, unsuccessfully launched potentially an intercontinental ballistic missile. So they grow increasingly belligerent.

I believe they increasingly isolate themselves from the international community. And while it will take us a couple of days to verify this test, certainly there's no indication that it wasn't as they say.

CHETRY: Quick question on that note. Do we have the ability to monitor their activities beforehand? I know we rely on South Korea. In this case, South Korea talked about some artificial seismic activity that led them to believe this happened. But do we have our own ability to be able to figure that out?

MULLEN: Well, I wouldn't go into details about our overall capabilities in that regard but we do over a period of time have the ability to verify whether or not this was a nuclear test.

CHETRY: We're talking about diplomacy being, of course, the first route in this case, trying to figure out whether or not there would be more sanctions, trying to figure out if these Six-party talks are still indeed going to go forward. But can you give us any indication of what the U.S. could do to protect us if, indeed, this is a threat to us should diplomacy fail?

MULLEN: Well, I think that -- I think it's really important, Kiran, right now to emphasize the diplomatic path. And that's really the one they're on.

Obviously, we've got forces deployed to that part of the world we have had for a significant period of time. We've got over 25,000 troops who are stationed in South Korea.

We've got very close alliances there with Japan and South Korea as well. And you mention the Six-party talks and the countries who are involved in that I think are absolutely critical as we move forward to address this increasingly belligerent challenge from North Korea.

CHETRY: Speaking of challenges, let's talk about Iran. You said yesterday that Iran is on track for building a nuclear weapon by 2011. What is the administration strategy for preventing Tehran from actually accomplishing that?

MULLEN: Well, I believe that Iran continues to be on this track to develop a nuclear weapons program and President Obama is intent to reach out and establish a dialogue with Iran, I think, is incredibly important. And it's in that, at least that strategic approach right now, without taking any options off the table with respect to Iran that I am hopeful we can make some progress and get to a point where Iran figures out that if they develop a nuclear weapon, if they achieve that capability, that's destabilizing for them, not in their national security interest.

CHETRY: Turning to the war in Afghanistan, you've said that the U.S. has about two years to turn the tide in the country. Of course, there is some impatience already.

Bob Herbert of "The New York Times" writes, "We invaded Afghanistan more than seven years ago. We've not broken the back of Al Qaeda or the Taliban. We've not captured or killed Osama bin Laden. We don't even have an escalation strategy, much less an exit strategy. An honest assessment of the situation would lead inexorably to such terms as fiasco and quagmire."

What is your response when people say what is the end game?

MULLEN: Well, I understand that there is frustration tied to the length of time that we've been there. That said, we've underresourced the effort in Afghanistan almost from the beginning certainly over the last several years as the insurgency has gotten tougher and grown.

And the path out of Afghanistan is tied not unlike Iraq to training the Afghan security forces, the army, the Afghan army, which really is a pretty good story right now and the Afghan police to take over their own security, provide security for the Afghan people so that economic development can take place, agriculture can start, for instance, to blossom and bloom again, move forward as well as develop governance at every level throughout Afghanistan so that the Afghan government can provide for its people. CHETRY: And finally, on this Memorial Day, when most of us are worried about the unofficial start of summer as it's become, barbecues and the weather, what do you want the American people to remember about the true meaning of today, especially for the fighting men and women overseas?

MULLEN: Well, it's the best military I've ever been associated with and today is the day we need to remember their sacrifice, those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, as well as the families of the fallen. And, indeed, there are many serving in harm's way as we speak, remembering their families, reaching out to them in communities throughout the land and making sure that those who have sacrificed so much, we've lost almost 5,000 in these wars and over 36,000 who have been injured and that we take care of them. They represent the best of America. They're the best young people I have ever been associated with and they really do make a difference.

CHETRY: Absolutely. We should all remember that today, for sure.

Admiral Mike Mullen, it was a pleasure to talk to you. Thanks for joining us this morning.

MULLEN: Thank you, Kiran.

HOLMES: And the full global resources of CNN tracking reaction this morning after North Korea's controversial nuclear test you just heard the admiral talking about. The U.N. Security Council scheduled to meet today. What can we expect from that meeting? We're asking our senior U.N. correspondent Richard Roth just ahead.

Plus, General Motors likely on the verge of Chapter 11 bankruptcy. What will the collapse of Detroit's biggest automaker mean for an already bruised economy?

It's 25 minutes past the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Good morning, Detroit, Michigan. Hope you all are doing well, though, in this Memorial Day. Lovely town. I spent some time there not too long ago, lovely folks who do believe their town will, in fact, come back.

Let's talk about one thing that could help them come back. That would be if GM and the automakers come back. I don't know if that's going to happen so soon, however.

Plenty of people on edge in the motor city this morning. Industry experts signaling General Motors will head into Chapter 11 before the week is over. So what could another auto giant bankruptcy mean for an already battered economy, an already battered city of Detroit?

Well, for some answers, let's bring in "Wall Street Journal's" Detroit bureau chief Neal Boudette.

Neal, good to see you as always, sir. First, tell the folks out there what did we get for all those billions and billions in taxpayer dollars that were supposed to keep a bankruptcy from happening at GM.

NEAL BOUDETTE, AUTO INDUSTRY ANALYST: Well, first of all, both GM and Chrysler are still here. If they hadn't gotten that, both of them would have collapsed months ago.

I do think that the help from the federal government has given them both a chance to come back. Chrysler has gone into bankruptcy. They've been in for a couple of weeks now and the company has not collapsed. And in fact, their sales are down, and down most of the rest, more than the rest of the industry but are actually holding up. Months ago, people thought that if one of these companies went into bankruptcy, they'd immediately collapse and have to liquidate and we haven't seen that yet.

HOLMES: Well, so you're telling me now that everybody thought we were trying to keep this company out of bankruptcy, but we got bankruptcy anyway, but the billions were still necessary anyway, is what you're telling me?

BOUDETTE: Yes. When GM and Chrysler got to the end of 2008, neither one of them had enough money left in the bank to keep operating. So they needed an injection of cash from the federal government to keep going and they've gotten a couple additional injections since then. And both companies --

HOLMES: So did that money delay the inevitable?

BOUDETTE: Well, inevitable, if you mean a bankruptcy filing?

HOLMES: Bankruptcy, yes.

BOUDETTE: Yes, it has delayed that, but it has given both companies time to prepare so that they can go into bankruptcy, get reorganized and come out as this company that has a chance at survival.

HOLMES: All right. Now, I mentioned this "Business Week" article to you while we were in a commercial break, but this article simply was titled "GM bankruptcy would be a disaster."

One line they had and it kind of jumped out at us is "the mere threat of bankruptcy caused GM's U.S. sales to fall by 50 percent in the first quarter from already depressed levels. If GM were to declare Chapter 11 bankruptcy, sales would decline even further."

It look like that Neal Boudette has lost. We just lost him. We lost his signal there.

I didn't -- I guess he didn't like my line of questioning there, Kiran. We will try to get him back up. And certainly not the last we're going to hear this story and we'll be talking about this more into GM possibly filing for Chapter 11 -- Kiran.

CHETRY: All right. Thanks to Neal Boudette for his time when he was actually here.

Thirty minutes past the hour now. We're following breaking news on this Memorial Day.

The world responding to North Korea's claim that it tested a nuclear bomb. It's the nation's second such test since October of 2006. South Korean media is also reporting the North test fired three short-range missiles this morning. President Obama says it's "a matter of grave concern to all nations."

Officials in Iran have blocked access to Facebook ahead of upcoming elections in the country. There are several reports saying that opposition candidates were using the social networking site and are calling the block an effort to sabotage any challenge to outspoken President Ahmadinejad.

And Florida Governor Charlie Crist asking the White House to declare one Florida county a major disaster area. Six straight days of rain have left water waist deep in some places near Daytona Beach. We're talking about Volusia County. Early estimates put the damage at more than $55 million.

Well, back to our breaking news now.

The world reacting to North Korea's claim it tested another nuclear bomb. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown calling it, it, "a danger to the world." Japan's prime minister vowing, "we are not tolerating this at all."

And we are expecting the U.N. Security Council to meet at 4:00 p.m. this afternoon. We bring in our senior United Nations correspondent Richard Roth.

While Japan calling this emergency session last time there was any movement on North Korea's part, it took a while to come to a consensus from the Security Council. This time is it different?

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT: It may not be that much different. It's a rerun. Japan was the angriest last time. And they wanted a resolution, the strongest act that the Security Council could take. They only got a statement because Russia and China object to sanctions against North Korea. We'll see what happens this go round.

Former South Korean Ambassador to the United States assessed the progress or lack of progress with the north so far.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The South Korean president has come out and has declared an emergency meeting. Obviously, it's very concerned about what's taking place to the north.

How can South Korea best deal with its neighbor?

HAN SUNG JOO, FORMER SOUTH KOREAN AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S.: Well, we have been trying to persuade them to give up their nuclear program, but obviously without much success. We went as far as possible in the United Nations. That has not worked. And at the moment there are a number of other things that have to be done. But most importantly, very close consultation with the United States, the president of the Republic of Korea will be visiting the U.S. next month.

In three weeks' time, there will be a summit(ph) meeting and they will of course talk about this, but even before that, they will have to work with the other countries, China, Japan, Russia to deal with this situation.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROTH: All right. The last time in April, following what North Korean said was a satellite launch, the west says it was a missile launch, the Security Council condemned the action and said no nuclear test, no more missiles. North Korea again ignoring it.

CHETRY: Right. And claiming that this nuclear bomb test was a promise reaction to that condemnation. How did we get so far away from the 2007 destruction of the cooling tower. It sort of looked like North Korea may be coming around, may be willing to engage diplomatically and now we've seen this.

ROTH: Well, once again, North Korea pulled out of the so-called six-country political talks because it was not able to verify or set up assurances for the west that it was really destroying much of its weapon, nuclear capabilities and missile capabilities. So North Korea wants dialogue one on one with the United States and so far Washington is not budging on that preferring to go the six-party route. It wants to get attention. There's internal politics going on with the succession of the leader of North Korea. There's a lot going on but they do seem to time their attacks to American holidays. That much is for sure.

CHETRY: And there's also a change of leadership in South Korea, the new president not nearly as open in terms of good relations with North Korea, saying the sunshine policy hasn't worked.

ROTH: A rocky time to be in South Korea. The former president killed himself, a couple of days ago. You can imagine for Americans, if your neighbor tested a nuclear device and your president killed himself, how you would feel this morning.

CHETRY: It is certainly is a difficult time it on the peninsula there. Richard Roth, thanks for your insight this morning.

HOLMES: So just how big of a nuclear threat does North Korea really pose. More now in an "AM Extra."

This is North Korea's second nuclear test. The first in 2006 measured 4.2 on the Richter scale. This one 4.7. It's a half magnitude greater, showing an increased blast power.

North Korea has acknowledged producing enough enriched plutonium for about seven nuclear bombs but it hasn't shown it can build an effective bomb nor an efficient delivery system, which means it may be several years before North Korea can actually threaten the world with a nuclear weapon. But there are still fears North Korea will sell its nuclear expertise to states trying to make nuclear weapons.

As California Supreme Court rules on Prop 8, same-sex couples who thought they would be married forever, could have those marriages suddenly null and void. We're with one couple anxiously awaiting the news.

Also, the biological clock is ticking out there, but it's not just for women anymore. We'll tell you what some of you older fellows need to know.

It's 35 minutes past the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHETRY: If this was once your favorite song, you were probably born the same year as me.

Well it's 39 minutes past the hour.

When you hear the term biological clock, you probably think of women, because women are often the ones who need to worry about the impact of age on pregnancy. But now there's a new study that says men might want to move things along a little faster as well. Jason Carroll is here with that.

And you know, I mean, usually, you don't think that guys have to worry as much as women about when...

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Usually.

CHETRY: Yes. About when they choose to become fathers.

CARROLL: But they better start worrying now, according to this study. You know there are some in the medical community who may take fault with this particular study but the results are in. The study draws a link between the age of the father and the intelligence of his child.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CARROLL (voice-over): It has been happening for centuries. An older man taking a young bride, popular with kings. In this day, not uncommon with Hollywood royalty. This 20-something-year-old trying to sum up the thinking on the male biological clock.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We guys, we don't have to deal with the whole, you know, the estrogen issue. So men just keep on bumping it out, but women, they can't.

CARROLL: The truth is there may be a male biological clock and it's ticking.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm sure it's true. I mean, come on, it's men, no offense, but hello.

CARROLL: The headline from a recent study, older fathers may mean lower IQs in their children. Researchers found children born to 50-year-old fathers scored slightly lower on intelligence tests than children of a 20-year-old father, regardless of the mother's age.

The researchers analyze data from more than 33,000 American children, the study's outcome a hot topic in the blogosphere.

LISA BELKIN, "NEW YORK TIMES": I would hope that somehow it equalizes relationships between sexes of the same age.

CARROLL: Author Lisa Belkin blogged about the study and wrote an essay titled "Your Old Man" for the "The New York Times." The response, Belkin says overwhelming.

BELKIN: The men are getting really angry and the women are little too gleeful. There were just hundreds and hundreds of people and you could divide them into two categories based on gender.

CARROLL: Now a sense of urgency with some men.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, it's great news. I better get working then soon, huh. Coming on 35 here.

CARROLL: Dr. Harry Fish is a professor of urology and authored a book on the male biological clock. He reviewed the study and cautioned more testing needs to be done because the study did not follow children's intellectual development beyond age seven.

DR. HARRY FISCH, PROFESSOR OF CLINICAL UROLOGY, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY: We can't say that men of a certain age that their children won't be as smart but we are seeing are real indications. We're seeing clues that as men get older there are problems.

CARROLL: This expecting couple in their late 30s taking a measured outlook.

I'm just grateful that we're having our first. You know, if he's a little less intelligent, maybe the world doesn't need smarter people, doesn't need, you know, more gifted people, just needs people.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CARROLL: Also, while the study found a six-point difference in intelligence test scores between the children of a 50-year-old father and a 20-year-old, the difference in those scores dropped to just about two point when socio-economic factors were taken into account. So perhaps access to quality education trumps a lot of this.

CHETRY: That's right.

CARROLL: We'll see.

CHETRY: All right. So poor men out there that are worried, I guess they can breathe a sigh of relief a little bit.

CARROLL: You have to get cracking.

CHETRY: Apparently. Jason, good to see you. T.J.

HOLMES: Get cracking, that's well put this morning. So romantic, isn't it? Hey, honey, let's get cracking.

Well, let's talk about the queen now. Yes, let's transition to the queen now. The queen's chauffeur, her Bentley and a bribe is what we're talking about. Details of an embarrassing security breach at Buckingham Palace and why her highness is furious about it.

Also, we are honoring an Iraq war vet this morning who survived against all odds on this Memorial Day. Here a tribute to the soldier from actress Katie Holmes.

It's just about 15 to the top of the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: And a live picture of Arlington National Cemetery this morning, the Tomb of the Unknown on this Memorial Day.

Let's fast forward now and look at a few stories making news on this Memorial Day. The president will participate in the annual wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown at Arlington National Cemetery at around 11:00 a.m. Eastern time. After that we'll deliver remarks at the Memorial Amphitheater. You can see that live right here on CNN and also on cnn.com.

Then, a little later today, the American Veterans Center will honor those in the military as well as all those who have served and died for our country with the National Memorial Parade at 2:00 p.m. in Washington, D.C..

Also, tourists in New York getting a treat today. While traffic will be blocked off for part of the time, Times Square and also Herald Square to make way for new pedestrian friendly malls. Great maybe for the walkers, the pedestrians, and the tourists. Some of the people driving not so happy about it. The new auto free zones are intended to reduce pollution and help traffic flow more smoothly in other areas.

All right. Let's turn now to the man on the weekends, Reynolds Wolf, keeping an eye on thing in Atlanta.

(WEATHER REPORT)

CHETRY: All right. We're following breaking news this morning. North Korea claiming it tested a nuclear bomb. The White House already responding this morning. President Obama accusing the communist nation of threatening international peace. We're going to break down how we got to this point and what could be next.

Also, imagine being married and suddenly finding out that the whole thing is null and void. Well, it could happen to 18,000 people in California tomorrow. We're with a same-sex couple anxiously awaiting a ruling from the state's highest court.

It's 49 minutes past the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHETRY: Welcome back to the Most News in the Morning.

A live shot of LAX in Los Angeles this morning. Right now, it's cloudy, 60 degrees. A little bit later it's going to be cloudy and only going up to 68. Wow, in southern California. It's going to be nice in the East Coast today.

Well, tomorrow will be a landmark day for the battle of gay rights as California Supreme Court rules on the legality of Prop 8. It bans same-sex marriage in California. It was put on a vote and it was made illegal.

Our Ted Rowlands is with one couple that we first met on the courthouse steps minutes after they married and they are now anxiously awaiting to find out whether or not their marriage will still mean anything after today.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): How does it feel?

JIM WINSTEAD, JUST MARRIED: It feels amazing.

ROWLANDS (voice-over): CNN viewers first met Jim Winstead and Rodney Naccarato on their wedding day in June of last year celebrating with their son, Zeich (ph), on the steps of San Francisco City Hall.

WINSTEAD: We're glad that we're finally able to be legally married.

ROWLANDS: At that point, the California Supreme Court had just ruled that same-sex marriages were legal. Many couples thought the battle had been won.

WINSTEAD: We know we have the law behind us. We know that this is - this is the real deal. This is us legally being married as opposed to before where we suspected that something might take that away.

ROWLANDS: But now their marriage and approximately 18,000 others are hanging in the balance with the same court that made same-sex marriage legal now said to rule on the legality of voter-approved Proposition 8. That measure defines marriage as between a man and a woman. If Prop 8 is upheld which many legal experts believe will happen, the court will have to decide on what will be done with the same-sex couples that were legally married.

Jim and Rodney live in Hollister, California. They say they are working on adopting another child and say that being married has changed their lives.

RODNEY NACCARATO, MARRIAGE AT STAKE: It's been absolutely everything that we - or I could have imagined.

WINSTEAD: It's unfortunate that we're here now. I have faith in the system and I just have to - we just have to hope that justice will come out on our side.

NACCARATO: We deserve to be married. We deserve the love and we deserve the right to share that union as any straight couple would.

ROWLANDS (on camera): When Prop 8 was passed, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets across the state in protest. It is expected a similar scene will play out on Tuesday, regardless of what the court rules.

Ted Rowlands, CNN, Los Angeles. (END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: The breaking story that we're following this morning, a nuclear test sending shock waves around the world. North Korea taking tensions to a new more dangerous level. We're live in Washington with reaction.

Also, the bribe that triggered a shocking security breach at Buckingham Palace. It's seven minutes to the top of the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: And a beautiful start to the day here in New York City. Expected to be about 77 degrees. Partly cloudy. Maybe no rain today on this beautiful Memorial Day.

And welcome back to you all on the Most News in the Morning.

And right now Buckingham Palace officials are re-evaluating their security procedures. That's because they are facing a pretty embarrassing breach right now. Two reporters creating an international sensation by penetrating the palace walls.

More now from Tim Lister.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TIM LISTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Another embarrassing security lapse at Buckingham Palace. A chauffeur allows two men into the palace garages after allegedly being promise 1,000 pounds, about $1,500. They got in despite palace security measures and posed as businessmen. But they were actually reporters for the "News of the World" and shot these videos of their tour of Her Majesty's limousines.

One was even invited to sit inside the queen's burgundy-colored Bentley.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is where Her Majesty sits.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's where she sits.

LISTER: The same car regularly used by the queen on official engagements. The paper alleges it set up the tour through the chauffeur's girlfriend and that its reporters went unchallenged throughout their tour.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What it actually exposes is a serious lapse of security at Buckingham Palace. We've had so many breaches of security over the years, but this one is really appalling. Our investigator is sitting where the queen sits in the royal limo. Our investigator could easily have been an Al Qaeda terrorist with a bomb to be planted inside the queen's car.

LISTER: Buckingham Palace says, "An individual has been suspended pending an investigation." Scotland Yard expressed its concern about the issues raised by the "News of the World" story and said it was liaising with the palace on security arrangements.

This lapse is not the first and certainly not as dramatic as the one in 1982, when the queen woke up to find a homeless delusional man sitting at the end of her bed asking for a cigarette. It scaled a wall and a drain pipe evading alarms and guards.

More recently, the footman circled here was an undercover reporter who used fake references to get a job at the palace and who allegedly had access to rooms due to be occupied by President George W. Bush during a state visit. But this lapse comes after security was supposedly tightened.

DICKIE ARBITER, FORMER PALACE SPOKESMAN: You've got to look at the people that are manning the gates and asking why did they let this person in? Why did they let the people in on the say-so of the chauffeur?

LISTER: That's a question both the police and the royal household will want answered.

Tim Lister, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)