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NBC °µºÚ±¬ÁÏ reports that U.S. officials tracking the object warn it isn't orbiting normally. South Korea's defense ministry says it may be a couple more weeks before it's known for sure if the satellite is circling the planet safely.

Although North Korea claims the launch was a scientific endeavor to put a satellite in orbit, the U.S. and its allies were quick to call it a long-range missile test. That may conjure up visions of nuclear missiles, but strategy experts say such technology is still out of reach for Pyongyang.

Japan says North Korea's action was intolerable. The White House calls it a "highly provocative act." The U.N. Security Council is expected to meet later today. North Korea, though, insists this was a peaceful mission to put a satellite in orbit. It celebrated its accomplishment.

North Korea appears to have taken a step forward in its long-range missile program. The country has fired a long-range rocket in spite of warnings from the U.S. and the United Nations.

A U.N. report says North Korea has more food than in previous years. But North Koreans who spoke to NPR say conditions are still dire. Food has become too expensive for many North Koreans, and people are dying of hunger, they say.

As the first anniversary of Kim's death approaches, North Korea's official news agency has produced a somber tribute to his favorite parka.

China's Web surfers have had much fun at the expense of People's Daily Online after it accepted as fact that The Onion thinks Kim Jong Un is 2012's biggest hunk. Editors at the Communist Party's mouthpiece now realize they were punk'd.

People who know The Onion is a satirical newspaper got the joke when it named North Korean leader Kim Jong Un this year's "Sexiest Man Alive." Editors at China's People's Daily newspaper did not. They picked up the story with a 55-page photo gallery of the pudgy young dictator and excerpts from the Onion's spoof — like, "This Pyongyang-bred heartthrob is every woman's dream come true."

People's Daily Online gave big play to The Onion's declaration that Kim Jong Un is 2012's sexiest man. Can we convince the Chinese news media that he's even more than that?

The 105-story skyscraper has been under construction for 25 years. A tour company has released photos showing where things stand and says the hotel may finally be finished in two or three years.