10 things you need to know today: March 29, 2013

North Korea threatens a rocket attack, France proposes a 75 percent tax, and more in our roundup of the stories that are making news and driving opinion

President Barack Obama speaks in front of relatives of gun violence victims on March 28, 2013 in Washington. Obama urged Congress to pass measures such as background checks to protect childre
(Image credit: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

1. KIM JONG-UN ORDERS ROCKETS ON STANDBY

North Korean state media said Friday that the country's leader, Kim Jong-un, ordered his missile units to be ready to strike the United States and South Korea, which South Korean officials said could mark either preparations for missile tests or just more blustering. Kim's order, which North Korea said was given during an emergency meeting early Friday, was similar to the one issued Tuesday when the North's top military command told all its missile and artillery units to be on the "highest alert" and ready to strike the United States and South Korea in retaliation for their joint military exercises. By attributing such an order to its top leader, North Korea tried to add weight to its threat, the New York Times reported. "We believe they are taking follow-up steps," said Kim Min-seok, spokesman of the South Korean Defense Ministry, referring to the surge in vehicle and troop movements at North Korean missile units in recent days. [New York Times]

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Terri is a freelance writer at TheWeek.com. She's a graduate of Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism and has worked at TIME and Brides. You can follow her on Twitter.