North Korea warned early Thursday that its military has been cleared to attack the U.S. using "smaller, lighter and diversified nuclear" weapons, while the U.S. said it was strengthening protection in the region and seeking to defuse the situation.

U.S. troops across Afghanistan are preparing for a reunion with a long-lost frenemy. After years of base build-ups and access to massive dining halls with a substantial selection of food options, soon many servicemembers instead will be chowing down on a plateful of Meals, Ready to Eat.