"South Korea's military is on high alert to prepare for any hostile acts, " ministry spokesman Mr. Kim said.

WSJ: North Korea Fires Missiles Into Sea

An air marshal is an undercover armed guard on board a commercial aircraft to counter hijackings and other hostile acts.

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Yet a new UN resolution, which was passed unanimously by the 15 members of the Security Council ordering Iraq to accept the return of weapons inspectors, does state that no hostile acts should be carried out while they are in the country.

ECONOMIST: The war of words begins | The

Mr Ashcroft said there was legal authority "under the laws of war and clear Supreme Court precedent, which establishes that the military may detain a United States citizen who has joined the enemy and has entered our country to carry out hostile acts".

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The conditions were abysmal, as they often are for opening acts: the houselights were up, the crowd was alternately inattentive and hostile.

NEWYORKER: We Are Alive