Russia has just signed an oil agreement with Iraq & is vocal that the UN should be the decision maker . . . . hardly backing the US to do what they will !!
Do you think Nth Korea would be so bold without at least tacit approval from the pupet master ?
These 2 powers realise the weakness of Bush himself & the growing lack of support both in the US & the Nato block for his war policy. They are manouvering him into an absolutely no win situation with the expressed purpose of diminishing US global power