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CNN Sunday Morning
U.S., South Korean War Games Under Way Off Korean Peninsula; Shoppers Shift Focus to Cyber Monday
Aired November 28, 2010 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to CNN SUNDAY. I'm Brianna Keilar, in today for T.J. Holmes.
And we're following breaking news out of the tense Korean peninsula this morning. We want to welcome our international viewers as well as CNN International anchor Natalie Allen.
Let's get now to CNN's Stan Grant. He is following the latest in the growing anger between North and South Korea.
And Stan, China now pushing for emergency talks as the U.S. military and South Korea begin joint exercises. Tell us about that and bring us up to date on this crisis.
STAN GRANT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Brianna, it has been a day of high diplomacy and building tension here on the Korean peninsula.
Let's start with the tension. Earlier today, there was reports from the South Korean military that North Korean had deployed surface- to-air missiles along its part of the border, which would be aimed at South Korean fighter jets. Now, apparently they had been moved into place last week after that clash on Yeonpyeong Island.
Now, there were also reports of artillery fire coming from the North side and visions showing what appeared to be movements at a military - at a military base on the northern side as well.
Now, all of this raised alarm on Yeonpyeong Island. There were calls for residents and journalists there to take cover. That was later lifted. But journalists are being urged to leave the island, fearing further North Korea provocation.
Now, all of this playing out against the backdrop of these exercises, military exercises in the Yellow Sea between the U.S. and South Korea. The USS George Washington has moved into place there along with four other battleships, and of course South Korean forces. They're taking place though about 100 kilometers, about 60 miles south of the border. And North Korean warning that any incursions onto its side of the border will be met by military action from the northern side.
Now, let's talk about the diplomacy. China sending an envoy here to South for - for discussions with the President Lee myung-Bak, and a recognition that China is going to try to bring the sides together, to work as a mediator. It's invited another high-ranking official from North Korea to visit Beijing next week. And as you say, China calling for a resumption of those six-party talks - Brianna.
NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR: And - and Stan, this is Natalie.
With the - the reports that you talk about of artillery fire and the games that are now under way, the military games between South Korea and the U.S., what is China's role - how major is China's role in defusing this situation?
GRANT: China is absolutely crucial. You don't get a closer ally to North Korea than China. In the past, that relationship has been described as like "lips and teeth." It is that close.
But China calling for calm. China also has its concerns about the military exercises, that it could be provocative and warning that it stays out of Chinese waters. But China acting as a intermediary, saying it wants to bring calm. And as I said, inviting this high- ranking North Korean official to China next week for talks.
Now, China has long wanted to restart the six-party talks. And basically, those talks have revolved around the nuclear issue, but now of course much broader, involving the United States, China, the Koreas, Japan and Russia.
But Korea saying - South Korea saying that it is too soon here for those talks to resume, and - and stressing that this is not a rebuttal of China, but saying this has been their position all along, that with these current tensions, it is not the appropriate time to begin those talks.
But you're right, China absolutely crucial to this process, particularly trying to get North Korea to bring calm on its side.
KEILAR: Stan, thanks for that. Stan Grant for us, covering this conflict from Seoul, South Korea.
Meantime, a new warning for the whistle-blower website Wikileaks hours before it's expected to release a new batch of classified government documents. The State Department says this latest move could jeopardize the lives of - quote - "countless innocent individuals, from journalists to soldiers." Wikileaks is being warned that if any of the new documents were provided by government officials without proper authorization - quote - "they were provided in violation of U.S. law and without regard for the grave consequences of this action."
The latest document release is expected to reveal details about worldwide communications of the State Department and its 297 embassies. In October, Wikileaks released nearly 400,000 U.S. military reports about operations in Iraq. And in July, it released more than 70,000 reports from the war in Afghanistan.
We have new details and reaction in the case of the Somali-born teen who is accused of trying to bomb a holiday event in Portland, Oregon. The FBI arrested 19-year-old Mohammad Osman Mohamed Friday after they say he tried to detonate what he thought was a vehicle bomb at a Christmas tree-lighting ceremony. FBI affidavits suggest Mohamed, who is a naturalized U.S. citizen, chose the event because of the large number of potential casualties.
One of the suspect's former classmates says he is shocked by Mohamed's arrest.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICARTE MARTIN, FORMER CLASSMATE OF SUSPECT: He was a pretty good - pretty good person. I mean, in class he was jokester. And he always - he always cracked jokes, and everyone found him to be pretty funny.
I mean, here I see, like a - you know, the - the kid I knew in class, you know? The, you know, pretty fun kid. But then I see that picture, and then, you know, that's - that's actually pretty scary.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHIEF MICHAEL REESE, PORTLAND, OREGON POLICE DEPARTMENT: It's very difficult for me to comprehend how a young man who we gave - this country has given great opportunities to - could waste those opportunities and be willing to commit a horrific crime. It's very sad.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: Mohamed has a court appearance scheduled for tomorrow. He's facing potential - a potential sentence of life in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.
A city in the U.S. is dealing with a pretty unique problem: too many jobs. We'll be taking you there and explaining what caused this rather unusual situation.
And of course, Reynolds Wolf. He's on the job for us this morning, tracking the weather as so many of you head back from your Thanksgiving holiday.
What's up, Reynolds?
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, it looks like that same storm system that we've had out to the West that's brought plenty of snow to parts of the Sierra Nevada and Rockies Mountains is going to be back again today. Possibly another foot of snow in the highest elevations.
We're going to let you know what to expect travelwise around the rest of the nation and what you can start - what you can expect for the start of the workweek.
Yes. Holiday's over. Time to get back to (INAUDIBLE).
More on that coming up in just a little bit.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) KEILAR: Two college professors on a rescue mission, braving the freezing temperatures of Minnesota's Long Lake to save a little guy, this little guy: a swan. The fella had a broken wing and his leg was frozen solid. Can you believe this? I guess you can believe this, Reynolds Wolf.
You know, they managed to scoop it out of the water into some warm blankets. They took it to a rehab center for wildlife.
And I guess this happens. Sometimes they see swans this times - time of year. They get stranded in the water because of injury and illness. And thank goodness for Good Samaritans, right?
WOLF: Yes, absolutely.
Kind of sad, isn't it?
KEILAR: It is.
WOLF: I mean, the rest of flock took off, went southbound and they're hanging out in Miami somewhere. And this dude is up there and - really. Really, thanks. Thanks for - thanks for leaving me.
But yes, definitely a beautiful thing to see some kindhearted people go and help out the - the poor animal in distress.
(WEATHER REPORT)
KEILAR: Well, you know, millions hit the Black Friday sales this weekend, expected to spend billions - in fact, tens of billions of dollars. So did they? The initial Black Friday shopping numbers are in. We'll tell you if people were in the spending mood this year.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: You know, the crowds were a bit bigger, but overall spending was modest. Those are the two preliminary reviews from Black Friday shopping figures, as we look toward tomorrow's Cyber Monday extravaganza.
The National Retail Federation says online shoppers should see more special promotions than they did last year. Good news for us shoppers. The Monday following Thanksgiving now becoming well-known for one thing, of course: Employees shopping online while at work.
According to the NRF, more than 70 million people will be shopping online from work tomorrow.
And our Josh Levs....
JOSH LEVS, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Yes.
KEILAR: ...joining us now with some tips for those of you who like to - I do the Cyber Monday more than I ....
LEVS: Who doesn't? KEILAR: I definitely don't do the Black Friday. But I - I....
LEVS: Yes. And you know what?
KEILAR: Not on - not on work hours, of course, but....
LEVS: Well, (INAUDIBLE). Employers just have to - I mean, they can't be a grinch.
On Monday - Cyber Monday, no one's going to be getting a full work day in. It's just not going to happen. I mean, you're talking more than half of workers in America are going to be doing some Cyber Monday stuff. That's pretty massive.
KEILAR: It is.
LEVS: So you know, be - just - just - employers will have to be relaxed for a little bit.
KEILAR: So - so what do we have to do? How do we get the deals?
LEVS: All right. So what we want to do is nail some strategy for you, right? And keep in mind that almost everyone on the planet who has any kind of website that sells anything is going to be taking part in this in some fashion. Eighty-eight percent of retailers are going to be participating in this.
So head into this knowing that.
Now, here are some key tips for you that I'm going to show you what to.
First one: Make a list and check it twice. That sounds kind of obvious, but here's the trick: Studies have shown that people who take part in Black Friday generally do a better job of knowing what they need to buy. You go in with a - to the store with a list; you get your stuff. A lot of the time, with Cyber Monday, people get lost. You get really involved in the website; you see something else you didn't plan on getting - boom (INAUDIBLE) - excuse me, my voice is gone.
And Brianna, you might be coming back in early, because my voice is shot.
But take a look here. Search the same item on multiple sites. This is interesting though. If you have an app on your phone that allows you to check a barcode or to search for an item at any store in America, do that.
But what we have found - and we have tried this ourselves at CNN. If you find an item that looks like it's a really good deal, save it on the screen. Open another browser and search a whole bunch of other sites. Often, you're going to find that that exact same item, if it's discounted at your favorite retailer, is going to be discounted elsewhere, sometimes even more. A lot of these retailers spend all day watching each other and give you better deals than even they planned to give you in the first place. So watch for that. Next thing: Study the shipping deals. Sometimes the way they trick you into spending more money is that they give you a really good deal on the item, and then by the way, the shipping amount is more than usual. So watch for the good shipping deals.
And one more here: Test-drive electronics. Sometimes you see these great electronics. You see these massive HDTV screens. You see these great game systems. Well you know what? If you've never played with it; if you've never used it; if you've never had the shot to actually have some time with it, you might not be getting what you want to be getting.
And you know what? I'm going to get in one more here.
Stores during the day are going to be changing their deals. They're going to be offering better things than they did even in the morning. So do this: Watch for e-mail alerts. Sign up for their Facebook pages. And sign up to follow them on Twitter, because you will find during the day better deals pop up.
So take a look here. I got a bunch of stuff linked for you up at Facebook and Twitter and the blog. I'm at Josh Levs CNN - and my voice came back. Yes.
So do this: Watch during the day.
And one more thing to keep in mind. A lot of you are going to shop during the work day. But believe it or not, Brianna, a lot of deals are starting tonight at midnight - literally, the stroke of midnight, these deals start to pop up. So you might want to stay up late, maybe even call in sick to work, something like that.
KEILAR: No.
LEVS: Get the best deals when you can.
KEILAR: Come on, Josh.
LEVS: Yes, but if you can save thousands of dollars, I'm telling you - for one day a year, employers have to be cool about this. It's a rough economy; you're going to get those Cyber Mondays. Get them where you can.
KEILAR: Josh Levs single-handedly contributing to the loss of productivity in our nation.
LEVS: There will be so low productivity tomorrow.
KEILAR: Come on, man.
LEVS: And I'm totally cool with that.
KEILAR: I do have a lot of homework to do tonight, obviously though.
(LAUGHTER) KEILAR: Thanks, Josh.
LEVS: You got it.
KEILAR: So good to see you.
LEVS: Good to see you, too.
KEILAR: Have you been in a New York taxicab? Well, drivers there are getting the word: Dress for success or pay up.
New York wants its cabbies looking good. We'll tell you what cabbies are saying about that.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: Are you looking for a job? Well, here is the story for you.
Kate Bolduan reports from Williston, North Dakota, where there are more jobs than there are people to fill them. And there's also another shortage: Homes.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They've got a unique problem up here in Williston, North Dakota. Many wouldn't call it a problem: more jobs than they know what to do with. But that's created a crisis you wouldn't expect.
(voice-over): Welcome to "Boomtown USA." Population: 17,500. Help wanted signs: 2,000 to 3,000.
WARD KOESER, MAYOR, CITY OF WILLISTON, NORTH DAKOTA: Williston is in a unique situation where we have less than 2 percent unemployment. We have...
BOLDUAN (on camera): That's amazing.
KOESER: I know it is.
BOLDUAN (voice-over): Great news, right? Well, there is this: The town now faces a serious housing crisis. Hotels, houses, apartments -- all full, forcing many, like Galen Booth, to live in campers.
GALEN BOOTH, PLUMBER: It's something like you've never seen before when you come on the drive out here, on the drive home, there's places like this all over. The whole town, all the streets. It's just -- it's crazy.
BOLDUAN: Booth has been living here six weeks with three other men while working on one of the new hotels going up in Williston.
BOOTH: It's not as bad as a person would think.
BOLDUAN (on camera): Yes.
BOOTH: It takes a little adjusting to get used to, but it's not horrible.
KOESER: And so, that's what we find happening here, is that we have builders who are coming in building homes and apartments and places for people to live.
BOLDUAN (voice-over): It's all thanks to oil. New technologies have led to huge oil discoveries in western North Dakota and oil companies say they're just getting started.
LANCE LANGFORD, EXEC. V.P. OF OPS, BRIGHAM EXPLORATION CO.: This is the one unique oil find in the United States that we've had in for a long, long time. We've just scratched the surface. That's not just for us. That's for the entire industry.
BOLDUAN: With no other option, companies like Halliburton are now building their own "man camps" to offer their employees somewhere to stay.
This one is made of shipping containers.
TRAVIS KELLEY, PROJECT MANAGER, TARGET LOGISTICS: We'll put this building up to house 158 people in - in 90 days. So it's quick construction.
BOLDUAN (on camera): And that's the point?
KELLEY: That's the point.
BOLDUAN (voice-over): Although a long term solution may still be a couple of years away...
(on camera): City officials fear, with the rest of the country in dire straits, people will do anything for work, and the weather here is about to shift from cold to deadly.
The mayor knows the housing crisis isn't going to be solved any time soon. So he says please come, but wait until spring.
Kate Bolduan, CNN, Williston, North Dakota.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KEILAR: Selling the Dark Side. A Darth Vader on the auction block at Christies. The asking price: $250,000. Any takers? Might surprise you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: You guys know that being in a taxicab in New York - that's like the quintessential New York experience, isn't it?
LEVS: Yes.
WOLF: It's an adventure. It's an adventure. It is.
KEILAR: It is, you know?
WOLF: Truly.
KEILAR: You have to kind of, like, steady yourself. You don't want to get the whiplash. But dress code. I don't - I guess I haven't really thought about this.
But you know, drivers, cabbies, they're in New York. They don't pull up looking like they're going to do a "GQ" magazine spread.
But you know, what if they pick you up in tank top? Maybe their swim trunks?
LEVS: What?
KEILAR: I know.
LEVS: Has that been happening?
KEILAR: I've never seen it.
LEVS: I've never had that.
KEILAR: I've never had that. But there's a new dress code in New York that is looking to make sure that they don't show up like that or they get $25 for that. So this is the Taxi and Limousine and Commission, which oversees all the cabbies there.
They say it's just a clarification of an old rule; they want to make sure that they're at least somewhat professional. So what does that mean?
Check this out. No tube tops. No tank tops. No swim suits.
LEVS: So there must have been actual cases when people were picked up in swim suits for that to happen, for (INAUDIBLE) this rule.
KEILAR: I - I lived in New York for three years. Never experienced it.
I would like a - sort of like, you can't hit the break as hard as they do.
WOLF: Is it - is it....
LEVS: Oh man. I need Dramamine in those cabs.
WOLF: Is it really that important though? I mean, I - I'd be fine if a cabbie picked me up wearing a banana hammock and a (INAUDIBLE). You know, as long as they get me safely from Point A to Point B....
LEVS: Woah.
WOLF: ...I - I - it doesn't matter. It's irrelevant. Just...
KEILAR: I'm totally - I'm with you on that.
WOLF: You know, I mean, if he's dressed, you know, to the nines and - and a terrible driver - you know, if you have to pick your poison, I'm just thinking there are other battles to wage.
KEILAR: I completely - I'm totally on board with you on that, Reynolds.
LEVS: That might be the first time "banana hammock" has been said on CNN.
WOLF: "Banana hammock" and (INAUDIBLE).
LEVS: Wow. Reynolds charting new terrain for all (INAUDIBLE).
(CROSSTALK)
KEILAR: OK. Let's talk about Star Wars. Yoda, Obi-Wan - they tried to tell Darth Vader that, you know, the Dark Side doesn't pay.
WOLF: Right.
KEILAR: You're all - you guys are all about the Star Wars, right?
LEVS: Kind of remember it.
KEILAR: Well check this out. That is the actual original costume from "The Empire Strikes Back." You've got the helmet, the mask, the armor. This is the whole thing.
Guess how much it went for at auction at Christies? I would think a lot.
LEVS: Yes, you would think so. Especially with all of these people out there who are so into Star Wars and...
KEILAR: They're crazy nuts for it.
LEVS: Look at how many people go to those conventions.
KEILAR: I know. I saw one guy run in the New York City Marathon once dressed as a Storm Trooper. People are crazy for Star Wars.
LEVS: Ouch.
KEILAR: Nothing. It was - it went for nothing.
LEVS: What?
KEILAR: That's right. It was expected to go for between a quarter-million dollars, $365,000. No bidder even offered to pay the minimum.
WOLF: Ridiculous purchase I can't make. No.
LEVS: That's Reynolds, not me. Everyone please take a look.
WOLF: I mean, you know, again - I don't know. When it comes to costumes, I like the - the taxicab costume I brought up. It's - it's got to be cheaper (INAUDIBLE).
I don't know. Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars for a costume?
LEVS: They say the economy's getting better, but clearly it's not, because if you can't sell the original Darth Vader costume for you know....
KEILAR: That's the true measure. Forget all these statistics.
(CROSSTALK)
(LAUGHTER)
KEILAR: There it is. And you know, they are - this next story, they're not exactly single ladies. But these boys woke and they shake it.
Check this out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(MUSIC)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEVS: No way. Good for them.
(LAUGHTER)
KEILAR: Look at that. Look at them shake it, stuff (ph) it. Oh, move that.
OK, so do you watch "Glee"? Are you a "Glee" fan?
LEVS: I have not seen this on "Glee."
KEILAR: Well, they kind of tore this page out of the "Glee" playbook so that they could win their school some cash.
LEVS: Did they win?
KEILAR: If you do watch the show, you may remember that there was this similar scene where the Decatur Central High School in central Indiana here re-enacted it for a local video competition. And the dancing, it paid off.
It - it won them $300.
LEVS: Good for them. KEILAR: I think this is a - you know...
LEVS: You know what? Good for them. That's great.
KEILAR: It also set off a three-game winning streak.
Three hundred bucks though. I don't know about that. They need more. I feel like this - these are some good news.
LEVS: You're the resident female here. If you were in high school right now, would you think this was just the hottest thing?
KEILAR: You know, I - I think that that's kind of fun. Who doesn't like a funny guy?
WOLF: It's definitely something to put on the bucket list. I mean, to do something fun like that. It's out of the (ph) unusual. It's - it's neat.
LEVS: It is.
WOLF: It's a novelty.
LEVS: And you know, Reynolds is our resident dancer here.
WOLF: That's right. I don't think I could do some of those moves though. I really can't.
KEILAR: Come on, dude.
WOLF: I really can't. Maybe with the Darth Vader costume I could do that.
(CROSSTALK)
WOLF: I mean, again, I'm - I'm shucking (ph) and jiving. I'm down for it. But I - I just don't know if I can (INAUDIBLE)
KEILAR: In the commercial break, people.
LEVS: Well, we'll roll on it.
KEILAR: Yes, we sure will.
And we'll have more on the day's top stories after that.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: Welcome back. I'm Brianna Keilar, in for T.J. Holmes, and we're following breaking news overnight in the Korean peninsula crisis.
Here is the latest, China proposing emergency consultations with members of the six-party talks. Those talks were put on hold back in 2008. China's proposal comes as the U.S. military and South Korean forces conduct joint military exercises in the Yellow Sea. Those exercises began five and a half hours ago, and North Korea's official news agency is warning that any intrusions in its territorial waters will result in a - and I'm quoting here - "merciless military counterattack."
This latest crisis began after North Korea fired artillery shells on South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island, killing two civilians as well as two South Korean marines. North Korea says the firing came after shells from the South Korean military drill landed in the North's waters.
And Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, tells CNN's Fareed Zakaria he believes North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il is dangerous to the region.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ADMIRAL MIKE MULLEN, JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN: And he's got a country that's starving its people, whose economy is absolutely dreadful, and he continues to take actions - and - and I think very deliberate actions - to destabilize a region that it - that could be very dangerous for all of us, including - not just the regional players, although I think, certainly, China has a great deal at stake with stability.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: You can check out Fareed's entire interview with Admiral Mullen on "FAREED ZAKARIA GPS". That's today at 10:00 A.M. Eastern and 7:00 A.M. Pacific.
Now we've - we've seen this mug shot. You've probably seen it. We know what this man is accused of, but what else do we know about Portland? This Portland bomb plot suspect, Mohamed Osman Mohamud.
Here's CNN's Thelma Gutierrez.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDEN (voice-over): Nineteen-year- old Mohamed Osman Mohamud is a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Somalia. He lived here in Corvallis, Oregon, a college town an hour and a half outside of Portland. Here, FBI investigators say Mohamed hatched a plan of attack against fellow citizens that dates back to the summer of 2009.
The government's case against Mohamed is outlined in a 38-page affidavit.
DWIGHT HOLTON, U.S. ATTORNEY FOR OREGON: This defendant, as is set forth in the complaint, demonstrated at every turn a very serious determination to commit violent Jihad.
GUTIERREZ: So, last summer, an FBI undercover agent contacted Mohamed, saying he was an associate of an alleged Pakistani terrorist. They met in Portland where Mohamed told the agent he wanted to put together an explosion where people would either leave dead or injured. He allegedly said he had identified the target where there would be many people, a tree lighting ceremony in Pioneer Square in downtown Portland.
ARTHUR BALIZAN, FBI SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE: He's the one that selected the location. He stated why he selected the location, because of the mass of people that would be here.
GUTIERREZ: Friday, Mohamed and the agent drove a van that Mohamed believed was packed with explosives to Pioneer Square. He allegedly attached the blasting cap to the device he believed to be a detonator. That's when agents swooped in and arrested him.
CHIEF MICHAEL REESE, PORTLAND, OREGON POLICE DEPARTMENT: It's very difficult for me to comprehend how a young man who we gave - this country has given great opportunities to could waste those opportunities and be willing to commit a horrific crime. It's very sad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KEILAR: That was CNN's Thelma Gutierrez reporting, who adds that according to an affidavit, Mohamed handed the FBI a thumb drive with details of the plot. He was also going to use a fake passport to get out of the country, and he said he wanted to use the name Beau Coleman.
Well, we've got a reminder for those of you who think maybe you can outrun the law. You know it never works. They're just bound to catch up with you.
A look at one high-speed chase near L.A., straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: This guy here obviously did not want to go to jail. He led several police officers or police cars on a high-speed chase in California to avoid it.
This started out in Montebello, but he swerved in the streets and interstates near L.A. and has finally ended there in that residential neighborhood. Police say that he was wanted for assault with a deadly weapon.
And, you know, it's that time of year when driving in the snow is really a messy endeavor, but a necessity in many parts of the country and what better place to learn those skills than in Colorado ski country?
Reynolds Wolf here to tell us about a training course that went through. This sounds like fun.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is - it is kind of fun. It's kind of scary.
KEILAR: Sure. WOLF: And, you know, we always tell people, always preached to our viewers the way you're supposed to handle the roadways, some of the issues that you're going to experience out there but it's one thing to tell you about it but it's another thing just to kind of show you firsthand, and hopefully you'll learn from some of my mistakes.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF: Do you know that according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more accidents occur during the wintertime as opposed in the - during the summertime, and this is the reason why - the ice and the snow, all that wintertime mess.
And it's the reason why we're here in Steamboat Springs, at the Bridgestone Winter Driving School with Mark Cox. Mark, what are we going to do today?
MARK COX, BRIDGESTONE WINTER DRIVING SCHOOL: Well, basically we're going to jump in the car, go out on the track and teach you the skills that you need to get around safely and have a little fun in the worst possible conditions.
WOLF: It sounds scary and fun and amusing all at the same time.
COX: Winter driving should be fun. There's no need for it to be scary.
WOLF: Let's get to it.
COX: All right.
WOLF: How deceiving can winter conditions be? Snow on the road, ice on the road?
COX: You know, winter conditions can be really deceiving because it may look like it's snow and underneath it could be just black ice, just glare, shiny ice. And it's hard to tell. So it's important that you as a driver make sure no one's behind you and every now and then hit your brake and see how much traction is available.
WOLF (voice-over): And, on this course, traction will be hard to find, coated with more than 250,000 gallons of water, this experience is like driving on a hockey rink.
COX: The more slippery it becomes, the more you have to anticipate each action, from steering to breaking to accelerating.
WOLF: One of the first lessons, the weight transfer of your vehicle plays a bigger role in controlling your car than the steering wheel.
COX: Now, don't turn more. Turn back straight.
WOLF (on camera): Oh, gosh. The compulsion -
COX: See how when you turn less it stirs more? WOLF: Yes.
COX: It goes -
WOLF: Wow.
COX: It's totally counterintuitive, but sometimes less steering is more effective. Choose just the perfect amount of steering, not too much, not too little.
WOLF: I see.
COX: And if the car doesn't turn, don't give into the tendency to just keep steering more. It wouldn't help.
WOLF: I see.
COX: It - in fact, it makes it much worse.
WOLF (voice-over): Another difference maker? The type and condition of your tires.
COX: You have to remember that a half worn winter tire performs like an all season tire. A half worn all season tire performs like a summer tire. And, really, a summer tire has no place in winter conditions.
WOLF: But Mark says the best thing to have in place when facing those icy roads is the wealth of experience.
WOLF (on camera): Like a pro. Nice. That's a wrap.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF: It's good stuff. Easy stuff.
You know, the number one thing - and hopefully you will come away with this - is that you just don't want to be in a rush because everything you happen to do is just a little bit tougher when it comes to driving in - and - in winter weather. We - and we were really going at speeds over 40 miles an hour -
KEILAR: It looked like you were going pretty fast.
WOLF: It really did look that way, but I think that's mostly just the camera being stationary and you're going by. You know, I mean, if you happen to be going 30, 40 miles an hour, it looks like you're going pretty quick.
But, again, just taking it easy on the roadways is key. It's (INAUDIBLE).
KEILAR: I just, I crawl along. I'm sort of at a - I have a deficit when it comes to winter driving. I grew up in Southern California, and then I moved to some snowy climates, but it's tough.
WOLF: Yes. It can be.
KEILAR: It's very tough.
WOLF: It really, really can be, so just - you know, patience is the thing. Always give yourself plenty of time if you're trying to go in to work and you've got a long commute to take and it's snowing outside, you got to be careful.
KEILAR: When he said don't over steer, so how - I mean, how do you sort of -
WOLF: It's tough.
KEILAR: -- absorb that?
WOLF: And, you know, he said experience is the best teacher. It's really hard to because you're panicking, and you panic when you get into a situation like that, when you lose a little bit of the control. You just have to be calm (INAUDIBLE) -
KEILAR: Resist your temptation -
WOLF: Absolutely.
KEILAR: -- to what you want to do, naturally.
WOLF: Absolutely. The temptation is to do just the opposite of what you're supposed to do. So if you just kind of slow down and just - you know, because you have to remember that everything is - your stopping distance is going to be increased, your brakes aren't going to be as effective. You're - you're basically at a disadvantage in a very big way, in every way, when you're out there, not including the - the visibility, actually.
KEILAR: Sure.
WOLF: So, thankfully we're not going to deal with that in parts of the country. The eastern seaboard looks pretty good. We're going to start off with a couple of live images, one from Washington, D.C., and we've got a great shot of the rotunda.
This is where you happen to be. Take a look at -
KEILAR: Oh, my digs. There we go.
WOLF: The sun is coming up. It looks beautiful. The sun is going to be shining brightly up and down the eastern seaboard. Even in Atlanta things are going to be picture-perfect for you. And, I'll tell you, that dry air is going to feel great, but it will be a bit on the chilly side.
However, out towards the west, the situation is going to be a little different. A few more clouds are going to be rolling, and with those clouds you can expect some rain, and, yes, even some snow. So treacherous driving is going to be a possibility out towards the west, and we're going to head there now. If you take a look, you see a lot of white out there. That's you're snow, from Idaho Falls, southward to Salt Lake City, and everywhere in between. Back over to Reno, you're now getting a break. Truckee, California, same situation.
Looks like the focus of that winter weather is going to push a little bit farther down the line into the Sierra Nevada Mountains, perhaps back into places like, you know, Yosemite you can have some rough snow. But as we transform from today into tomorrow that system is going to eject from the Rocky Mountains. It's going to drive eastward.
When it does, look what's going to happen. We're going to see some heavy rain begin to develop across part of the mid-Mississippi Valley. As we fast forward into tomorrow, you're going to have some widespread delays, let's say, from New Orleans, northward to St. Louis, of course, in Chicago and then you're going to have residual backups in other places around the country.
That's what you have in the front half of the system. The back half of the system, you still have that overriding moisture, but at the surface freezing conditions. So that precipitation is going to be mainly some snowfall, still some snowfall out in ski country in Colorado.
The question is how much rain are we going to get? And here is your answer. The latest computer models indicate that some locations, especially when you're in St. Louis, southward of Memphis and just the east of - of, let's see, not too far from Springdale, Arkansas you could have some spots that could get up to two, maybe even three inches of rainfall. So keep that in mind. Any drivers, wet roadways are going to be a possibility.
That is a quick snapshot on your forecast. And, yes, we got a lot more that we're going to be dealing with right here on CNN SUNDAY. Stay tuned.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: Time for a look at the week ahead in politics.
Sarah Palin's book tour will be making headlines. Could it be her roadmap to the 2012 presidential race? Here's CNN deputy political director Paul Steinhauser.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Hey, good morning, Brianna.
Sarah Palin is heading to Iowa today and that should turn some heads. The former Alaskan governor is in Des Moines to sign books for her new book, "America By Heart". John McCain's running mate in the last presidential election returns to Iowa again on Thursday for another book signing in the state.
So why is this a big deal to political rules (ph)? Here's why. Palin said she's seriously thinking of making a bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012 and Iowa, of course, plays a big role in the road to the White House as its caucuses kick off the presidential primary season. Palin's book also takes her to South Carolina which holds the first southern primary in the battle for the White House and to Ohio, a crucial must-win state for any presidential nominee - Brianna.
KEILAR: Paul Steinhauser for us.
You know, in some countries being overweight is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, CNN's Nadia Bilchik is about to take us to a few places where bigger is definitely better.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: We spend so much time here in the U.S. obsessing over our weight. But did you know some countries actually embrace the extra padding. In fact, this year's World Health Organization list of the top 10 fattest countries and the U.S., if you can believe this, is close to the bottom.
So let's bring in CNN editorial producer Nadia Bilchik. She's working with me on this one. And where are these countries where being bigger is better, more beautiful or just sort of, I guess, a sign of maybe wealth or something, right?
NADIA BILCHIK, CNN EDITORIAL PRODUCER: Absolutely.
Now, before we even get to that, I have to comment on the pink top to say to you that I only really met you yesterday and already we're in sync.
KEILAR: We are literally wearing the exact same top.
BILCHIK: Perfect. And I had just complimented you yesterday on losing weight. And yet in Nauru, which is a Pacific island, which is number one on the World Health Organization list of fattest countries. Now, this is five percentage.
So let's look at what fat means according to WHO. That means your BMI, your body mass index, is over 25 percent to be overweight, over 29 to 30 percent to be considered obese. Now, it's a little more complex than that because you and I could actually weigh the same, but one of us, hardly, though - look how tiny she is.
KEILAR: Yes.
BILCHIK: But, anyway, you could have more muscle than I do and therefore have a lower BMI even if we weighed the same. So it's a bit more complex.
But let's say it's height to weight ratio. So in Nauru, they have 95 percent of the population is overweight and it's due to the fat of this more western diet, but also fattening ceremonies.
KEILAR: Really. BILCHIK: They want their young women to be as voluptuous and plump as possible. And that's not the only country that has fattening ceremonies.
KEILAR: We kind of just had one ourselves with Thanksgiving, right?
BILCHIK: That's true. Right.
KEILAR: But this is a very structured ceremony.
BILCHIK: It's fractured. And on Thanksgiving, we weren't force fed hopefully -
KEILAR: Yes. Oh, my goodness.
BILCHIK: -- and we remain healthy (ph). But what they do, like in Mauritania, which is a West African country, they literally have fattening ceremonies where they force feed the women. They give them up to 16,000 calories a day.
KEILAR: What are they feeding them?
BILCHIK: They feed them things like coconut and peanuts and coconut oil and beet. And you can imagine how much of that you have to eat. So for young women doing this they often gag.
KEILAR: Sure.
BILCHIK: They are really forced to. They're often beaten to have to put on this amount of weight. But the idea is that if you are plump you appear to be affluent and you appear to come from a good family. And then once you get married you want to stay plump because that means that your husband is treating you well.
KEILAR: But it's on the opposite side of the spectrum from sort of, I guess, you could say the torture in the way that many women go through in the U.S. and similar countries to stay thin.
BILCHIK: It's - you're right. Just so right, Brianna. It's equally torturous because you've met someone who's got a naturally slim build who is force fed, and yet here we often force diet. So it's the ironies of the world, isn't it?
But interestingly enough, Kuwait was also very high on the list -
KEILAR: Really?
BILCHIK: -- of the world's fattest countries, because Kuwait used to be a Bedouin culture. And now has changed very much with the oil discovery to much more western food. Also, some you of the work that people used to do in Kuwait, now you've got day laborers to do. So you look at the change in societies.
But according to the World Health Organization, we are genetically disposed to want sugar, fat and salt. So we obviously train ourselves not to. But that's our predisposition so hence the world's fattest country. America is eight or nine on their list.
KEILAR: OK.
BILCHIK: But -
KEILAR: I can tell you that's my predisposition. Who doesn't want the sugar and the salty treats?
But - so, if you're in these countries and you say to a woman - you wouldn't say to a woman, oh, you're looking - you're looking so thin. You wouldn't say that.
BILCHIK: No. That would be an insult.
KEILAR: That would be an insult.
BILCHIK: In certain countries - in certain African countries, certainly in Nauru, which tops the list, being really overweight, I mean, talking about having rolls is far more attractive.
Now, there are some websites here in America where there's a penchant for the larger woman, but certainly mainstream -
KEILAR: It's a niche.
BILCHIK: -- to look like you do.
KEILAR: It's a - oh, I thank you, Nadia. And like you, I very much appreciate that. Nadia Bilchik, very interesting information.
BILCHIK: We'll talk more about it at 8:00.
KEILAR: Yes.
BILCHIK: Because there's so many other facts that have come out of this particular study.
KEILAR: OK. Great. We'll talk about it next hour. Thank you so much.
Well, you know, most travelers returning from the holiday weekend just want to know are we there yet? But for some, the longer the journey, the better because it's all about racking up those frequent flyer miles.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: Maybe you want to get away, but maybe you're happy to come back, right? Quite a few planes up in the air on this Sunday morning. Each one of the dots that we have on the map here, a different flight. People trying to make it back home from the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. And for many travelers, you've got long security lines, maybe some delays, you got perhaps some hassles ahead of you.
But there are some people literally who are going out of their way just to get those precious frequent flyer miles. And here's Poppy Harlow from CNNMoney.com to tell us about it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM (on camera): How many miles have you flown in your life?
PANDY PETERSEN, FOUNDER, FLYERTALK: I raise my hand, 17 million.
HARLOW: What?
PETERSEN: Yes, 17 million.
HARLOW: Did George Clooney fly like a million in "Up in the Air"?
PETERSEN: He isn't got nothing on me.
HARLOW (voice-over): Imagine flying for fun. Sounds crazy to most given the delays, cancellations and security hassles. But to some like Randy Petersen, it's well worth it to rack up the miles on so-called "mileage runs".
PETERSEN: Mileage run is really just a mechanism to do one of two things. Earn the most miles for the cheapest amount of money and then you take those miles and redeem them for something really valuable later on.
RICK SEANEY, CEO, FARECOMPARE.COM: You want to get from point A to point B, but you want to go in the most roundabout fashion as you possibly can, leave in the morning, hop all around, pick up 10,000 or 15,000 miles.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Houston to Atlanta, Atlanta to Seattle, Seattle to Detroit, Detroit to Houston, Houston to Atlanta, Atlanta to Seattle, Seattle to Detroit, Detroit to Nashville, and then I drive home from Nashville.
HARLOW: On FlyerTalk.com, people post and search for the cheapest mileage runs with the most miles.
BARBARA KESSLER, FREQUENT FLIER: We are flier talkers.
HARLOW: Barbara Kessler is a self-employed attorney who flies - well, just for the sake of flying and racks up hundreds of thousands of miles a year.
KESSLER: Some people like to go shopping all day. I will go to California for lunch and meet friends. I went to Disneyland and met friends and spent the day at Disneyland.
HARLOW (on camera): One day?
KESSLER: Yes.
HARLOW (voice-over): Kessler even flies from New York City to Hawaii more than she goes to midtown Manhattan, just 20 blocks from her apartment. The key experts say is paying less than two cents per mile and redeeming them for much more.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you want anything else? Water?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: White wine.
HARLOW: But with hefty mileage bonuses from credit card offers, the currency of sort is being devalued and award ticket can be harder to come by, but the perks are still there.
SEANEY: If you like to travel, you know, and get upgraded, if you want to be the first person to board the plane so you can actually have bin space, so that's where miles come in.
HARLOW (on camera): Do you have to be rich to be a flier talker?
KESSLER: Not at all. I've seen places that I could not afford. I've stayed for weeks in Paris for less than seven euros.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've been to the Great Wall of China. I've gone to the ballet in Moscow. I've been on Safari in South Africa. I've eaten shrimp on the barbie in Australia -- all because of miles.
HARLOW (voice-over): Not bad, if you don't mind the long journey getting there.
In New York, Poppy Harlow, reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KEILAR: Welcome to CNN SUNDAY. I'm Brianna Keilar, in today for T.J. Holmes.
And we're following breaking news out of the tense Korean Peninsula this morning. North Korea says military exercises under way right now are a pretext for war.
China is proposing emergency consultations with members of the six-party talks. Those talks were put on hold back in 2008. China's proposal comes as the U.S. military and South Korean forces conduct joint military exercises in the Yellow Sea.
North Korea's official news agency is warning that any intrusions in its territorial waters will result in -- and I'm quoting here, "a merciless military counterattack."
The two Koreas are separated by the demilitarized zone, one of the most heavily armed borders on the planet.
And CNN's Stan Grant is in Seoul.
Stan, tell us the latest there.
STAN GRANT, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Brianna, as you mentioned there, a day of building tension and also high diplomacy. We'll start with that tension. Now, the reports from South Korean military earlier today that the North Koreans have moved surface-to-air missiles into place along its border, which would aimed at South Korea fighter jets. Now, apparently, they were deployed after the clash at Yeonpyeong Island last week.
Also, reports of movement at a military base across the border as well and sounds of artillery fire. Now, this unnerved people on Yeonpyeong Island. There were calls to the residents there and media to take shelter. That was later lifted. But the South Korean government is also calling for journalists there to leave the island fearing further provocation from North Korea.
Now, all of this is playing out against a back drop of these U.S. and South Korean military exercises in the Yellow Sea. The USS George Washington, of course, there, four other battle ships about 6,000 U.S. troops and South Korean force. These exercises are taking place about 100 kilometers, 60 miles south of that contentious border.
The North Korea warning any incursions into its territory, as you just said before there, will be met by this merciless military confrontation. China is sending an envoy to Seoul for discussions with President Lee Myung-bak, and a recognition that China will play more of an intermediary role, inviting a high level official from North Korea to visit Beijing for talks next week, and also trying to restart the six-party talks involving China, the United States, Russia, Japan and the Koreas.
But all of that is still in its infancy right now set against this rising tension, Brianna.
KEILAR: And, Stan, I know we saw you yesterday amongst some protesters who were saying that South Korea needed to have a stronger response. Have you had a chance to gauge just those every day Koreans there in Seoul and see kind of what the buzz is -- what the mood is, what they're talking about during this conflict?
GRANT: You know, Brianna, South Koreans are used to this level of tension. They've lived with this for the past 60 years since the armistice was put in place. But normally, it is military to military.
What we saw in the streets yesterday were former military, former special forces troops from South Korea who were protesting that the government here did not hit back hard enough when North Korea launched that attack on Yeonpyeong Island.
Now, speaking to other people on the streets as well, just ordinary citizens, they also saying that they are disappointed with their government's response, and that led to the resignation of the defense minister last week and the appointment of a new defense minister.
You can certainly say that the attack on Yeonpyeong Island really changed the game here. This was an attack that put civilians in the firing line, and that's why we're seeing this concern that the South Korean government is not doing enough -- Brianna. KEILAR: Stan Grant in Seoul, he's been in the middle of this for days now. We're going to be checking in with him throughout the day. Thanks, Stan.
And a new warning for the whistleblower Web site WikiLeaks. Hours before it's expected to release a new batch of classified government documents, the State Department saying that its latest move could jeopardize the lives of, quote, "countless innocent individuals from journalists to soldiers."
WikiLeaks is being warned that if any of the new documents were provided by government officials without proper authorization, quote, "They were provided in violation of U.S. law and without regard for the grave consequences of this action."
The latest document release is expected to reveal details about worldwide communications of the State Department and its 297 embassies.
You may recall back in October, WikiLeaks released nearly 400,000 U.S. military reports about operations in Iraq. And before that, in July, it released more than 70,000 reports from the wars in Afghanistan.
Now, we have some new details and reaction in the case of the Somalia-born teen who was accused of trying to bomb a holiday event in Portland, Oregon. The FBI arrested 19-year-old Mohamed Osman Mohamud, seen here. They arrested him Friday after they say that he tried to detonate what he thought was a vehicle bomb at a Christmas tree- lighting ceremony.
An FBI affidavit suggests Mohamed, who is a naturalized U.S. citizen, chose the event because of the large number of potential casualties. One of the suspect's former classmates says that he's absolutely shocked by Mohamed's arrest.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)
RICARTE MARTIN, FORMER CLASSMATE OF SUSPECT: He was a pretty good -- a pretty good person. I mean, in class, he was jokester and he always cracked jokes and everyone found him to be pretty funny. I mean, here, I see the kid I knew in class, you know, pretty fun kid. But when I see that picture, it's actually pretty scary.
CHIEF MICHAEL REESE, PORTLAND, OREGON POLICE: It's very difficult for me to comprehend how a young man, who we gave -- this country has given great opportunities to, could waste those opportunities and be willing to commit a horrific crime. It's very sad.
(END VIDEO CLIPS)
KEILAR: Mohamed has a court appearance scheduled for tomorrow and he's facing a potential sentence of life in prison, as well as a $250,000 fine if convicted.
And, we are keeping an eye on your weather. Reynolds Wolf in the CNN severe weather center -- Reynolds.
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: That's right. And for people munching on turkey and all the holiday goodies, it's time to get ready to head on home. And by doing so on the road or air, you're going to have some issues out there travel-wise. We're going to talk about some of the places where we might have some problems. Plus, we're going to tell you what kind of weather you can expect for the work week ahead.
It's all coming up in just a few moments.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: Did you know it's just miserable right now in the U.K.? We've got overnight temperatures there across Britain that plunged well below zero yet again. And yesterday, they were hit with the earliest widespread dusting of snow in 17 years. Forecasters there issuing a series of severe warnings and this is expected to stay this way all the way into next week.
Of course, we have some snow in the western U.S. ourselves -- nothing like Europe, however. But meteorologist Reynolds Wolf is taking a look at the Sunday forecast.
Especially as some folks are trying to get home -- I know I am.
WOLF: Yes. I mean -- I wish we could give you a forecast to let you and our viewers know that we got a great weather conditions coast to coast. Well, at least on one of the coasts. In the Eastern Seaboard, things are going to be just fine for you. Not a whole lot in terms of rough weather.
A few exceptions, we did have some heavy lake-effect snow falling in places like Syracuse yesterday, also towards Erie, Pennsylvania. But things are beginning to quite down there. They're starting to ramp up out towards the west.
Out west is a combination of rain in low-lying areas. But when you get high up into the mountains, it's turning into a snow a bit. Things are finally beginning to quiet down for Reno, for Tahoe, even Truckee, California, which is some great news.
But further down the chain as we make our way into parts of the Cascades and even over into parts of the southern Sierra Nevada, that's where we might have some heavy snow. Also into the Central Rockies, Northern Rockies, snow could be a big issue.
But we're going to see a metamorphosis, a huge change in the storm system. It's going to go from becoming a big snow maker to perhaps becoming a large rain maker.
This area of high pressure on the Eastern Seaboard is going to roll off to the east. Right behind it, this frontal boundary is going to sweep on through in time for Monday. Scattered showers, thunderstorms maybe expected -- check it out all -- all the way from the Great Lakes, western Great Lakes, clear down to Gulf of Mexico, which could mean delays in Chicago into Milwaukee, back into St. Louis, perhaps even into New Orleans before all is said and done.
And then, of course, you're going to have the residual ground stop just in many locations. So, it's going to be a frustrating time. Snow is beginning to build back out towards the west. Even Denver is getting in on the snow action as we ease into Monday.
But for today, your temperature is going to warm up nicely in parts of the Eastern Seaboard. Going to 53 degrees in Raleigh, 43 in Boston, 58 in Kansas City, 67 in Dallas. Continuing our march to the west -- Salt Lake City with 32 degrees, 41 in Seattle, 57 in San Francisco.
That is a quick snapshot of your forecast. We've got a lot more coming up. Sit tight. You're watching CNN SUNDAY.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: All right. This is one of my most favorite things that we do here on CNN SUNDAY. We're taking a look at some of the hottest viral videos this week.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes.
KEILAR: And, Josh, you have those.
LEVS: All right. We've got (INAUDIBLE) for the three of us, all right?
KEILAR: Right.
LEVS: So, let's start off with (INAUDIBLE). This is -- everyone is out buying presents now for their kids -- look at what this one dad made his son. He made basically his own Rube Goldberg machine. It's called the marble perimeter run. This goes around the wall, like up near the ceiling of his little kids' room. And he writes about this on his Web site Instructables.com -- how you can spend hours and hours and hours building something like this for your kids.
KEILAR: It looks like that OK Go video.
LEVS: That's exactly what it looks like. It's exactly what it's like.
KEILAR: That's very cool.
WOLF: That's cool. That is really, really neat.
KEILAR: So neat.
LEVS: I mean, we try to get good presents. Reynolds and I have kids. We have presents for our kids. We're not going to spend days.
WOLF: I could never do that. That is just unbelievable.
KEILAR: That's a very special thing. LEVS: OK. So then we'll get to the weekly adorable, which is the next one, which is, you know, animals don't have to do anything. But they just -- everyone goes crazy over them.
This is a baby otter playing with a stuffed walrus. And within the matter of weeks, it had hundreds of thousands of views. It's going to be in the millions in no time. It's up on this Web site, icanhacheezburger.com. All you need is a shot of animal and you instantly get millions of views.
WOLF: Otters need to be stopped. We had some issues yesterday.
KEILAR: Yes.
WOLF: We actually showed video of an otter attacking someone who is speaking on the cell phone. Now, we've got other --
(LAUGHTER)
WOLF: You know, we're the anti-otter network apparently.
KEILAR: You know, you think they're so cute and cuddly, and here we are giving them a bad name. They're ferociously little thing.
WOLF: They are. Indeed.
LEVS: Yes. But you can't hate them when you watch this.
All right. Here's the goodie (INAUDIBLE) from the good folks at jibjab.com. They knew you're here this weekend. You know, everyone is off doing their holiday shopping, now the holiday music is all over the radio
WOLF: Oh, yes.
LEVS: Check out what they have for us.
(VIDEO CLIP)
(LAUGHTER)
WOLF: Nice. Pretty cool.
LEVS: There you go.
(CROSSTALK)
WOLF: Unbelievable.
LEVS: And there's the whole little story line (INAUDIBLE) appears from out of nowhere.
KEILAR: Look at my moves.
LEVS: Look at the jumping beans. Here comes the Bri moves.
KEILAR: Oh, no!
WOLF: It's on now. It's on now. Oh, you got to love it.
LEVS: There's a big finish just (INAUDIBLE), too.
WOLF: Does it involve otters?
LEVS: No. There's no otters on this one. But we got the hand action going on. We got the --
(CROSSTALK)
KEILAR: Look at that. Is that the running hand I busted out?
WOLF: That's me.
KEILAR: Play that guitar --
(CROSSTALK)
KEILAR: Oh, it's fun. I love it.
LEVS: As always, all the links are up for your Facebook. You can take a look at them right there yourself. You can fill out your own jibjab. They got a lot of good stuff for you. So, go ahead, play, have some fun.
KEILAR: Very cool. That is fun. And we will be right back after a short break.
WOLF: That was good.
KEILAR: Very good.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: Updating our top stories now.
The suspect accused of planning to bomb an Oregon Christmas-tree lighting ceremony is due in court tomorrow. Authorities arrested 19- year-old Mohamed Osman Mohamud Friday night in Portland and they say they've tried -- they say that he tried to detonate what he thought was a van filled with explosives. The bomb was actually a fake, thanks to an undercover operation that identified the plot. Officials say the public was never in danger.
And the State Department issues a warning to the founder of the Web site WikiLeaks. In a letter, the State Department is saying the plan by WikiLeaks to release more classified documents could put lives at risk. The next batch of documents is expected to include communications from the State Department and its 297 embassies and consulates. Officials say the information could jeopardize relationships with allies as well as military actions and anti-terror operations.
And we have new developments this morning in the tense situation on the Korean Peninsula. Joint military exercises between the U.S. and South Korea are under way right now. These drills are taking place during very high tensions after North Korea shelled an island in the Yellow Sea. Four South Koreans died in that.
And also today, China called for the members of the six-party talks to meet in early December to try and calm down this situation.
So, let's get some perspective here on the Korean crisis. North Korea calling today's military exercises by the U.S. and South Korea a pre-text for war. I'm joined now by Marco Vicenzino, director of the Global Strategy Project in London.
Thanks so much, Marco, for being with us. And let's ask -- I just want to ask you off the top, because you talked so much about China's role in this, but I want to ask you if there's really any chance here we've heard North Korea talking about the brink of war. What are the chances here that there's war on the peninsula or can this crisis be averted?
MARCO VICENZINO, DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL STRATEGY PROJECT: Well, I think no parties on this want to risk a war. North Korea has been playing a very, very dangerous game of brinkmanship in recent years. But never knows, because if something happens, if there's a skirmish that spins out of control and there's an immediate escalation, this -- I would say not a full-blown war but there can a serious skirmish that emerges into something that all sides would not want. But once again, the consequences can be dire.
So, this game of brinkmanship, if they just go over the brink just a bit, it's going to be a very dangerous situation for security in the region, in northeast Asia, for global stability, and it will also heavy economic implications because once again, that instability on the Korean Peninsula is going to impact markets not only Asia but internationally.
KEILAR: The U.S. obviously looking to China here for some intervention. China is taking some sort of a role. But you have written that China has failed to proportionately step up to the plate, if you will, for the role that it needs to play. What kind of impact can China have? What kind of impact is China willing to have here?
VICENZINO: OK. China is North Korea's lifeline. Without Chinese support, whether it's financial or in terms of economic aid, the North Korean regime cannot survive.
Now, China, in my opinion, can do more. We look at recently at what happened in terms of the sinking of the sinking of the North Korean ship. All countries in the world condemned it. The Chinese did not condemn it. The recent shelling that took place this past week, everyone condemned it except the Chinese.
The Chinese need to be more vocal. They need to be proactive.
And it's sad that now, just today, they call for resumption of the six-party talks because now there's a crisis, there's a sense of urgency. When those talks fell apart in April of 2009, in my opinion, the Chinese have not done enough in the past year and a half to push forward those talks.
So, there's also this diplomatic and there are several other measures that can be taken. But once again, China, in my opinion, plays the lead role out of all the six-parties that are involved in speaking to North Korea.
KEILAR: So, what are the immediate steps that need to be taken here, Marco, to really step this down, away from what's being called the brink here?
VICENZINO: Well, obviously, China, in my opinion, has to come down heavily. Now, if it's not done probably not publicly but behind- the-scenes, they need to put their fists down with the North Koreans and make them understand that they have to cease these activities. After that, there has to be a resumption of talk in December, as the Chinese have called for.
But, once again, those talks, that dialogue -- it cannot be a dialogue for sake of dialogue. It has to be dialogue with the intention to achieve concrete results to deescalate tensions and to resume serious talks about North Korea once again participating with the international community in scaling down its nuclear capability.
KEILAR: Whenever North Korea makes a move, and it causes, obviously, a lot of concern on the part of the U.S. and its allies, people always wonder what is North Korea trying to say? Why are they asking for this attention? And one of the things you have said is that you believe it plays a role in the health of Kim Jong-il and his son who is the new heir apparent. Can you expand on that?
VICENZINO: Yes, sure. I mean, basically, a succession is taking place. Now, the succession -- there's a lot of elements in the upper hierarchy of -- within the North Korean political and military establishment. He wants to secure the position for his son. And to do so, obviously, his son has to appear strong. And once again -- and then you have another flip side domestically inside the country -- you know, once again, serious issues of starvation for about a fifth of the population.
So, in order to distract attention from the internal problems of the country and to shore up the credibility of his son, the best way to do is always to create, you know, create instability, and create some sort of crisis on the outside. And once again, South Korea is a perfect target for them to do it. This regime, its main aim is survival and self-preservation. And whatever it takes to do, it will do -- even if that means playing a risky game of brinkmanship.
KEILAR: Great insight. Marco Vicenzino, thank you so much for being with us.
VICENZINO: Thank you.
KEILAR: We'll be right back after a quick break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: We have some pretty remarkable performances by athletes. We got a fan also who gets into the mix.
And HLN sports anchor Joe Carter joining us for just those moments.
So, this is a play that is being called the interception the year.
JOE CARTER, HLN SPORTS ANCHOR: Definitely. The interception the year perhaps top three college football plays the year. We still got another couple weeks of college football.
But this, I've never seen anything like this before. Oklahoma's defensive back Broderick Brown jumps out of bounds, bats it back into bounds to his own teammate Sean Lewis. You'll see again the replay -- incredible athleticism. Great football smarts. I've never -- have you ever seen anything like this?
WOLF: Similar. (INAUDIBLE) pitch ball Auburn and North Carolina.
CARTER: Auburn.
WOLF: There you go.
CARTER: You remember that one, yes.
WOLF: Absolutely.
CARTER: Great football smarts though, great play. But Oklahoma would outlast Oklahoma State in this one, 40 points scored in the fourth quarter in this game.
WOLF: Oh, my gosh.
CARTER: So, everyone woke up at the end of the game and Oklahoma now sits and waits to se if they'll play in the Big 12 championship against Nebraska.
But perhaps the biggest winner of the night is a fan at the Sacramento team's basketball game. Made the shot and you get to win a brand new car, a brand new Ford. Nothing -- he actually called it before it. He said, "I'm going to bank it in."
And what's funny about this story is that his friend, his college roommate, was in the stand and someone betted 50 bucks, is he going to make it or miss it, he said he's going to miss. But apparently that friend is still looking for a ride home.
KEILAR: It's a safe bet that someone's going to miss that.
(CROSSTALK)
KEILAR: There's so great.
Joe, thank you so much.
CARTER: You bet.
KEILAR: And we'll have more top stories at the top of the hour when CNN SUNDAY MORNING continues. But, first, "SANJAY GUPTA, M.D." begins now.
