North Korea announces the trial of two U.S. journalists, and analysts say the move signals a bid for direct talks with Washington. Washington and Pyongyang have no formal diplomatic ties, and tensions are running high. In the last two months, Pyongynag has conducted a second nuclear weapons test, launched six short-range missiles, scrapped international disarmament negotiations, and may have restarted its plutonium reprocessing plant. Daniel C. Sneider, assistant director of the Asia Pacific Research Center at Stanford University, said recent weapons tests by North Korea have complicated the issue.