North Korea is poised for its next move

An Australian perspective (that criticizes the Australian Foreign minister).  I am not sure what the world's longest "amnesty" is, maybe that is an Australian translation for armistice (I am sure someone will correct me and tell me amnesty is correct or perhaps it is an attempt at satire that is over my head).

North Korea has been the biggest single threat to peace and stability in the Asia Pacific since the Korean War paused for the world's longest amnesty in 1953 and that situation is unlikely to change any time soon.

But the author is correct here:

Phoning allies and thanking China must surely give the mad regime pause for thought. 

Sadly, none of the diplomatic posturing or harsh words will have any impact on Kim Jong-un and the regime.

And this is quite a concluding statement:

If the North Koreans manage to marry their rocket and nuclear technologies into a single package then it won't be a matter of what others say. 

Washington simply cannot and will not allow that to happen.

V/R
Dave 

North Korea is poised for its next move

• Ian McPhedran From:
  Herald Sun December 31, 2012 12:00AM
• http://www.heraldsun.com.au/opinion/north-korea-is-poised-for-its-next-move/story-e6frfhqf-1226545405830

HOUSTON, we have a problem. And the problem's name is North Korea - the rogue nation with the new Dr Strangelove in the top job.

Youthful dictator Kim Jong-un, has successfully launched a satellite from a locally produced rocket called Unha or "galaxy".

That in itself is not a major problem, but the fact that the rocket could potentially carry a nuclear warhead across the Pacific to the US or even south to Australia is a very big problem.

North Korea is oblivious to outside influences or criticism and even its only friend, China, had no choice but to join a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning its latest snub to the rest of humanity.

Footage showed jubilant North Koreans dancing in the streets with glasses of beer rejoicing at the successful launch. The revellers would have been hand-picked officials, as most of the country's dirt-poor citizens don't have the energy to dance because they are starving.

It is difficult to imagine what is going on in an administration that values space travel and missiles above the welfare of its people. The Security Council warned after a failed rocket launch in April that it could take "action" if North Korea tried again.

"Members of the Security Council recalled that in April they demanded that the DPRK (North Korea) not proceed with any further launch using ballistic missile technology and also expressed the council's determination to take action accordingly in the event of a further DPRK launch," a UN statement said.

"Members of the Security Council will continue consultations on an appropriate response in accordance with its responsibilities given the urgency of the matter."

(Continued at the link below)

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/opinion/north-korea-is-poised-for-its-next-move/story-e6frfhqf-1226545405830