Hillary Clinton launched her first diplomatic trip as secretary of state this weekend. And, boy, it’s shaping up to be interesting.

The trip, which will take the secretary to five nations, aims to strengthen the United States’s ties in Asia. Clinton said her first stop, Japan, will prove pivotal in her mission:

I have come to Asia as my first trip as secretary of state to convey that America’s relationships across the Pacific are indispensable to addressing the challenges and seizing the opportunities of the 21st century.

The bilateral relationship between the United States and Japan is a cornerstone of our efforts around the world.

Its foundation has been and always will be a commitment to our shared security and prosperity, but we also know that we have to work together to address the global financial crisis.

Climate will also figure into future endeavors. Clinton’s trip to Japan, however, has largely been shaded by North Korea. That government on Monday responded to news reports that they’re planning to test a long-range missile with a terse, perhaps sinister reply: "One will come to know later what will be launched." No stranger to confrontation, Mrs. Clinton insisted it would not be in the nation’s best interest to go ahead with a test: "The possible missile launch that North Korea is talking about would be very unhelpful in moving our relationship forward." Mrs. Clinton also spent some time Monday visiting with families of Japanese men and women abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s, an event Clinton described as a "human tragedy."

Mrs. Clinton’s next stops include Jakarta, Indonesia and Seoul, South Korea. The most significant trip, however, may be to China, where Mrs. Clinton will press leaders to help solve some of the world’s most daunting problems, not least of all, the economy.

Said the secretary of relations with Beijing: "I’m very positive about the kind of cooperation that we can achieve together on behalf of really serious issues like clean energy and climate change and nuclear proliferation, as well as the economic crisis." China, however, has an immense amount of wealth, and some analysts say they may not be as flexible as Clinton would like. But, we all know Hillary can be pretty persuasive, so we’re keeping the faith.