On July 4, America's Independence Day, North Korea, in open defience of American and it's so called allies, launched it's Taepodong II long range millile along with at least six other medium range Scud and Rodong type missiles. The long-range missile failed within a minute after launch.

Although the missile failed, the fact that North Korea launched it proves that Kim Jong Il has no concernes whatsoever about angering the United States or any of it's so called allies. In my opinion it also prooves that North Korea has no reason to be concerned.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said "We are seriously concerned about the events that have occurred" and "We hope that all sides will maintain calm and restraint." This doesn't sound like China is planning on doing antyhing more than they have been doing, talking and stalling.

The White House spokes person Tony Snow said "you also have got to keep in mind the Chinese specifically asked the North Koreans not to do this; the Japanese specifically asked the North Koreans not to do this; the South Koreans specifically asked them not to do this; the Russians, the international community. You had continuing efforts to try to reason with the government of Pyongyang, and there will continue to be those efforts." and "And the one thing that Ambassador Bolton said, and it's been our policy all along, is that we do not act unilaterally, parties do not act unilaterally. They will act in concert. And that's how we will continue.". In other words, we will do some more talking.

U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said "The U.N. Security Council must send a strong and unanimous signal that North Korea's missile test-launch was unacceptable

Japan's deputy UN ambassador Shinichi Kitaoka said his country - already in range of North Korean missiles - is aiming at adoption of a resolution. "Sanctions are probably included in our first proposal," he said. The resolution is expected to call for action under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which is militarily enforceable.

The U.K. U.N. Ambassador said "It's a provocative action. "We condemn it. We very much hope that North Korea will come back to a moratorium, back to the six-power talks, and we will be supporting a resolution put down by Japan and the United States."

The German Foreign Ministry's chief spokesman, Martin Jaeger said "The German government views this as an irresponsible provocation which it very much regrets." and "This is a bad setback for nuclear talks on the Korean peninsula.".

In other words, this matter will be handled in the United Nations and as usual nothing other than a lot of talking will take place. In the mean time Kim Jong Il now knows that he can push America and the world much further without fear of any dire consequences.

The worst it seems, that will happen to North Korea, is some type of watered down resolution will be voted on in the U.N., and as we all know from history, U.N. resolutions are basically
worthless. Japan may increase their sactions against North Korea but as long as North Korea has China, those sanctions mean very little.

David G. Hallstrom, Sr.
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