7.0 Quake in Northern Mariana Islands

Although the 7.0 quake is what caused me to stop and read the clip, it was the following paragraph that grabbed me.

"A self-governing commonwealth of the United States since 1976, the Northern Marianas consists of 15 islands, with more than 90 percent of the population of 54,000 living on Saipan. Only four other islands are populated."

WTH is this? A self governing commonwealth of the United States? WTF IS THIS S H I T?

Is this how Obama ......oh never mind.

[link to timesofindia.indiatimes.com]