Stabenow: We need to watch North Korea closely

Michigan US Senator Debbie Stabenow says the Obama administration is handling the volatile Korean situation well. 

North Korea bombed a South Korea fishing village this week, prompting South Korea to fire back. 

This weekend, US and South Korean naval forces are planning a joint exercise off the North Korean coast.  

Stabenow says it’s important for the US not to back down.

"At this point I think we have to go ahead with what we think is appropriate," says Stabenow, "But we have to monitor this very closely.  They internally have a lot of volatility in their own leadership....so we have to watch this closely."

The reasons behind this week’s attack by North Korea remain unclear.