A statement from NORTH KOREA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY admitting publicly that the state has nuclear weapons. North Korea also said it was abandoning indefinitely six-party talks aimed at winding down its nuclear program
"Let them bomb Japan with that nasty missile. Their missile cannot load a nuclear warhead."
SHINTARO ISHIHARA, governor of Tokyo, responding to the statement by North Korea
"The Iranians just need to know the free world is working together to send a very clear message: don't develop a nuclear weapon."
GEORGE W. BUSH, U.S. President, in response to talks between Condoleezza Rice and NATO foreign ministers in Brussels last week
"If the invaders reach Iran, the country will turn into a burning hell for them."
MOHAMMAD KHATAMI, Iranian president, on the 26th anniversary of the Iranian Revolution, on pressures from the U.S.
"The calm that is currently prevailing in our territories signals the start of a new era, the start of a hopeful peace."
MAHMOUD ABBAS, Palestinian President, on the cease-fire agreement reached between his government and Israel at a summit in Egypt last week
"It did not achieve anything. From our people's interests, the Israeli position did not change."
SAMI ABU ZUHRI, a spokesman for the Palestinian militant group Hamas, commenting on the summit
"It was a change-of-life thing. Instead of buying a new motorcycle, I got back with my partner."
CHEECH MARIN, on why he reunited for a stage performance and co-wrote a new movie with his partner, Tommy Chong; the comedy duo had not been together on stage since 1981