It takes a lot to take the focus off Iran in the realm of international politics but the murdering savages of Pyongyang have done just that. Satellite surveillance has revealed that North Korea is preparing to launch its latest long-range missile, the Taepodong-2, this ICBM has a 6000 mile range and is capable of reaching the United States. The US, however, is not the only country alarmed with recent developments on the Korean peninsula. In 1998, Japan was none to happy with the Stalinist regime when it launched a missile, which violated Japanese airspace. This incident may be credited with efforts by some Japanese politicians to renounce the pacifist clause in the Japanese constitution.

In light of new concerns that Taepodong-2 may be ready for launch, Japan has made it clear that a similar incident like the 1998 mishap would be regarded as an attack. If there is any country in the world that knows the danger of inciting Japan into a military posture it should be the Koreans, a militaristic Japan makes Genghis Khan look like a boy scout.

The US, for its part, has contemplated shooting down a North Korean missile should it venture too close for comfort. To this end, unconfirmed reports indicate the US has stepped up efforts to activate its much ballyhooed anti-missile system to intercept the North Korean missile. It is unclear how Kim Jong Il would react to the downing of his pride and joy, should the US pursue such a course, but one thing is for certain, the North, like their Iranian counterparts in the regional destabilization game, must surely be relishing all the attention. Perhaps Kim is looking for a lucrative incentive package like the one being offered to the Mullahs of Tehran, who don’t even have a nuclear capability (yet).

It is doubtful, the North would be foolish enough to take any action which risks an armed confrontation with the US, much less prompts Japan to re-militarize, more likely they are maneuvering simply to bring about additional concessions from the 6 nations ostensibly negotiating with North Korea, though “negotiation” has a different meaning for nations like Russia and China. And then there’s the subject of South Korea, a nation increasingly blind to the grossly apparent threat posed by their northern neighbor. The South’s younger citizens are so eager for reunification they are willing to endure any slight and tolerate any measure of offense to placate the communists north of the 38th parallel. Given this changing reality, the South’s political leadership have been notably silent on the issue, perhaps they will awaken from their slumber when North Korean tanks start rolling, one thing is for certain, Americans should not be stationed along this border defending a nation that doesn’t even want to be defended.
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/20/AR2006062001120.html