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North Korea Continues Missile Brinkmanship

The United States, South Korea and Japan threatened serious consequences if North Korea test launched a missile capable of reaching the U.S. mainland, even as several members of the former Clinton administration and even a former U.S. presidential candidate called for President George W. Bush to launch a military strike at the missile site in the reclusive, Stalinist nation. Many commentators expressed the opinion that the North was trying to get the attention of a Washington more focused on dealing with an Iranian threat than on the Far East.

For its part, Pyongyang said that the crisis could be defused by acceding to North Korea?s demand for the United States to talk directly with the dictatorship. However, Washington has rejected such talks out of hand and has for its part insisted that the North rejoin six-party talks including the U.S., Japan, South Korea and China. Over the weekend the U.S. military noted it had the capability to shoot down any North Korean missiles.

Any missile tests conducted by North Korea would violate a self-imposed moratorium and break an agreement reached with Japan after a short-range missile test conducted by Pyongyang flew over Japan and alarmed the world. Japan and the United States have threatened North Korea with sanctions, and a planned trip by former South Korean president Kim Dae-Jung was canceled (reportedly after severe pressure from Seoul ally America).