Norks show impotence of UN strategy

Washington Post:

Defying the United States on Independence Day, North Korea fired seven missiles on Saturday into the sea off its east coast.

The test-firings came two days after North Korea, which is being squeezed by the U.S. government and other countries for its recent nuclear test, fired four short-range missiles into the sea.

North Korea had warned ships to avoid waters near its east coast through July 10 because of military exercises, and the test-firing were widely predicted.

The South Korea military said that seven missiles had been fired intermittently from early morning on Saturday to late afternoon, but declined to say publicly what type they were.

Military officials told South Korea's Yonhap news agency that they appeared to be Scud-type missiles and described them as more dangerous than the short-range weapons fired Thursday.

Government sources in Japan and South Korea told reporters that the missiles may have been Nodongs, a mid-range Scud.

North Korea has more than 200 of these missiles, which are capable of striking nearly all of Japan. They are regarded by the Japanese government as a serious threat, and it has spent hundreds of millions of dollars in recent years buying two U.S.-made anti-missile defense systems.

Some weapons experts in the United States say that North Korea may already have the capacity to mount a small nuclear warhead on a Nodong, and there is widespread expert agreement that the North is working on it.

In Tokyo, the chief of U.S. Naval operation said Saturday the United States was ready for any North Korean missile tests. "Our ships and forces here are prepared for the tracking of the missiles and observing the activities that are going on," Adm. Gary Roughead told reporters after meeting with Japanese military officials.

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Tension has been building in northeast Asia since early spring, when North Korea launched a long-range missile over Japan. In late May, it detonated its second nuclear bomb, which prompted a new round of U.N. sanctions and worldwide condemnation, even from the North's traditional allies, China and Russia.

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China and Russia's condemnation is meaningless if they do not go along with meaningful sanctions which they have not. Right now they are being given a twofer, by speaking tough but letting the Norks continue to get away with bad behavior. This has made the UN an impotent observer, while the US South Korea and Japan continue to face a growing threat.

We can expect another round of meaningless talks at the UN and some resolution saying they really mean it this time, but little will change until China decide to change the Norks conduct by cutting them off.