16/04/2017 BBC Weekend News

North Korea has made a failed attempt to launch a missile -

a day after warning America that it was ready to hit back

with nuclear attacks, amid rising tensions in the region.

The US military said the missile blew up almost

as the US Vice President, Mike Pence, headed to South Korea.

After arriving, Mr Pence said the United States' commitment

to its alliance with South Korea had never been stronger.

From Seoul, Stephen Evans sent this report.

The American Vice President visited South Korea's National

Cemetery where the names of 104,000 soldiers who died

Mr Pence knows this history because his father served in the war.

His big message now - the alliance remains.

This morning's provocation from the north is just the latest

reminder of the risks each one of you face every day in the defence

of the freedom of the people of South Korea and the defence

of America in this part of the world.

He landed a day after a fearsome display of weaponry,

But as though to undermine that image, North Korea today tried

US officials said the launch came from the Sinpo

launch from land in that area which also has a submarine base.

It's not clear though if Mr Trump has decided on attacking

South Koreans are watching developments closely.

25 million South Koreans live within range of North Korean artillery.

All the same, South Koreans tend to assume war will not happen,

life goes on, all Mr Trump's predecessors from Clinton onwards

Mr Clinton contemplated bombing North Korea's nuclear

Because the threat of retaliation would probably bring

Mr Trump may or may not be like the presidents

In a complex situation of great danger, he is

His attitude to risk and military action is hard to gauge.

Our Correspondent John Sudworth is in the North Korean

and earlier gave us his assessment of the situation.

His movements are being monitored and tightly controlled.

In many regards this is business as usual for North Korea. It has long

used when friendship and tension to the anti and when business and

economic concessions as it steps back from the brink but with each

cycle moving one step closer towards its goal of becoming a fully fledged

nuclear power. But it's not what's happening in this capital but in

Washington of course and it seems the actions of North Korea believes

it is confident that President Trump will like his predecessors before

him, eventually conclude that the cost of military action is simply

too great. More than a hundred people,

many of them children, are now thought to have died

in yesterday's suicide A convoy of coaches was carrying

evacuees in a pre-arranged exchange between the Syrian Government

and some rebel groups The blast, on the outskirts

of Aleppo, tore through coaches that had left two pro-government towns

surrounded by rebels. The people of Turkey are voting

in a referendum on constitutional change that could see sweeping

new powers given to President His opponents fear the proposed

changes would lead to a more authoritarian country,

but Mr Erdogan says they'll provide stability and more

efficient government. Live now to the capital Ankara

and our correspondent It is clearly important for the

President but why are people describing this as a potential

revolutionary change in terms of the impact on the country itself? Quite

frankly because Turkey is so important in itself. Rarely has this

country is so central to world affairs, key to resolving the

conflict in Syria. Crucial to the fight against so-called Islamic

State, hub of the migrant route going to Europe and a hugely

important western and Nato ally in a volatile region. That's why it's so

important to the outside world and this but will determine Turkey's

future and the future of its divisive and powerful President,

will he be given sweeping new powers to choose ministers, appoint the

most senior judges, dissolve parliament, potentially stay here in

power until 2029 with President Erdogan be dealt the most serious

blow of his political career? It is a hugely important choice they think

this country, and this polling station yesterday, 90% turnout so

far, that could be decisive as Turkey faces the most crucial vote

of its modern history. Thank you. The Prime Minister Theresa May

and the Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn have issued their messages for

Easter. Mrs May urged people

to "unite" as Britain prepares She also said Easter was a time

to think of shared values and to treasure our traditions

of religious tolerance. Let us come together as a nation,

confident in our values and united in our commitment to the obligations

that we have towards one another. Let us work together to build that

brighter future that we want And let us together

build a stronger, fairer Britain that truly does

work for everyone. It would be easy to retreat

into our private lives because of challenges

that seem overwhelming, or allow ourselves to

be divided and blame But we need to respond

to these problems head on, for social justice,

peace and reconciliation. The Pope has used his

Easter Sunday Vatican address to condemn attacks on civilians

caught up in the war in Syria. Meanwhile, here, the Queen

and the Duke of Edinburgh attended the traditional Easter service

at Windsor Castle. Rain didn't dampen the Easter

message in Rome, where thousands of pilgrims gathered to see

Pope Francis celebrate Easter mass and lead the blessings

in St Peter's Square in the Vatican. Mass took place amidst tight

security, a week after attacks on two Coptic churches in Egypt left

more than 40 people dead. Pope Francis used his message

to also condemn yesterday's bomb attack on a crowded Syrian bus

convoy, that killed TRANSLATION: May sustain the efforts

of all who are actively engaged in bringing comfort and relief

to the civil population in Syria. Pray to a war that continues

to sow horror and death. And yesterday the latest

horrible attack on refugees, which provoked many deaths

and many wounded. May he grant peace to

the entire Middle East. As the skies cleared,

the Pope's message resonated with the thousands who travelled

from far and wide for The Archbishop of Canterbury

delivered his Easter message He said today's terror,

pain and despair should not These things, these grim events

overshadow our lives because we fear They pretend to have power

that they do not have when they say The Royal Family gathered

at St George's Chapel in Windsor. The Queen, who wore a springlike

shade of turquoise, was joined by the Duke of Edinburgh

and her children and grandchildren for the traditional

Easter Sunday service. You can see more on all of today's

stories on the BBC News Channel. The next news on BBC One

is at 6.35pm this evening. Until then have a very

good afternoon. Hello and good afternoon. High

pressure will never be too far from our shores in the week ahead meaning

a long diatribe whether in prospect. You may find that hard to believe if

you are stuck under cloud and rain sliding erratically across a simple

slice of the UK at the moment, making it a fairly miserable day in

Cumbria, this shot from a weather watcher earlier. Some sunshine to be

had, this in Greenwich, things across the Southeast clouding

overthrew the rest of the day, this is 4pm, some splashes of rain

working in. To the