THE BUZZ OUTSIDE THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA
A sign denouncing North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is seen with a North Korean flag at a protest criticizing North Korea's missile launching in Seoul, July 5, 2006.COMMENTLINESOn North Korea:On Tuesday, North Korea launched six missiles, including a long-range intercontinental missile, into the Sea of Japan. It followed up these tests with a seventh firing on Wednesday. Kim Jong-Il’s Communist government has threatened to launch further missiles.
The Heritage Foundation’s Baker Spring outlines a four-point program to deter North Korean aggression and defend against any future attacks:
1. Conventional defense of South Korea
2. Global, layered missile defense
3. New nuclear deterrent
4. PreemptionThe Heritage Foundation's Michael A. Needham says:
"North Korea’s July 4 missile launches do not fundamentally alter the challenge of confronting North Korea’s provocative behavior. They do, however, provide Pyongyang with useful information on its Taepodong 2 ICBM technology, violate the North Korea’s 1999 self-imposed moratorium on missile launches and further isolate North Korea from the other nations in the Six-Party talks. While keeping yesterday’s events in the proper perspective, the United States should use this opportunity to encourage the international community to take a stronger approach towards Pyongyang and to underscore the importance of a ballistic missile defense system as part of a comprehensive American national security strategy. Finally, America must remain committed to the Six-Party talks no matter how Kim Jong-Il lashes out."Michael Rubin, writing in the National Review says:
"The White House should condemn Pyongyang’s provocations. But it should also recognize the process by which the Stalinist state acquired such capabilities. That the Bush administration now seeks to replicate the same process with the Islamic Republic is little more than dereliction. The future of Iran’s nuclear program lies in the North Korean crystal ball."When you see Madeleine Albright and Wendy Sherman condemning Bush and praising Clinton on North Korea while making the news circuit, just know it's because they have a business to promote:
The Albright Group. In
this video from Fox, Wendy Sherman tries to convince us that the elder Bush allowed North Korea to make plutonium. Then, she elaborates, under Clinton, North Korea produced no plutonium. With a stern face she then says that under the younger Bush, North Korea was allowed to resume production of plutonium. Finally, Brian Kilmead jumps feet first into the interview in disbelief and attempts to set the record right. (This is the piece that started a firestorm on conservative talk radio today.) (Updated with news refs.)
NEWSBYTESNORTH KOREAA Comprehensive Set of Military Options for Countering North Korea’s Growing Missile ThreatBy Baker Spring(heritage.org) -- Starting on the Fourth of July, North Korea launched a salvo of seven short-, medium- and long-range missiles. Despite the failure of the single long-range missile, the Taepo Dong-2, the launches confirmed that North Korea is seeking to advance its missile arsenal in order to threaten both the United States and its allies in Asia. The short- and medium-range missiles, the Scud and No Dong respectively, all flew in the direction of Japan, so it seems that North Korea is focused on achieving a military capability to threaten Japan in particular. It remains unclear at this point whether North Korea can arm its missile arsenal with nuclear warheads. While North Korea is openly pursuing nuclear weapons and is thought to have a small number of such weapons, mating these weapons to ballistic missile delivery systems requires additional technological steps.
Responding to North Korea's Missile ProvocationBy Michael A. Needham(heritage.org) -- Adding an international relations angle to America’s Independence Day celebration, North Korea fired six missiles yesterday, and at least one more today, into the Sea of Japan. Among these missiles was the Taepodong 2 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which failed approximately 40 seconds into its flight. These launches, while a provocation that will further isolate North Korea from the rest of the world, should not lead the United States to alter its approach to confronting the bad behavior of the Kim Jong-Il regime. America should continue to work with its partners in the Six-Party talks to compel Pyongyang to cease its belligerent behavior. Further, the U.S. should join with Japan and other nations to impose additional economic sanctions on North Korea, both unilaterally and through the United Nations Security Council. Finally, U.S. policymakers should recognize that North Korea’s missile tests underscore the importance of developing a comprehensive ballistic missile defense system.
Dangerous CycleNorth Korea, Iran, and repetitive diplomatic failure.
By Michael Rubin(nationalreview.com) -- Ignoring both international calls for moderation and Washington’s warnings, North Korea launched seven missiles on July 4 and 5, including the long-range Taepogdong-2, which will be capable of delivering a nuclear payload to the United States. That the Taepogdong-2 apparently failed after 40 seconds is irrelevant; engineers test missiles to identify and rectify problems, and so each test brings them closer to their goal.
ALSO SEERocket's Red Glare Not-so-crazy Kim tells the world to pay up one more time.(WSJ) -- Most of the civilized world spent yesterday denouncing Kim Jong Il's July 4 fireworks display of launching several missiles into the Sea of Japan. The denunciations are all very nice, but the question is what lesson the world's leaders, especially those in China and South Korea, are going to learn from this latest North Korean provocation.
NEWS REFERENCESCNN.com - U.S. official: North Korea tests long-range missile - Jul 4, 2006
North Korea Test-Fires Seventh Missile
CNN.com - N. Korea test-fires six missiles - Jul 5, 2006
CNN.com - Officials: More N. Korea launches possible - Jul 5, 2006
N. Korea Test-Fires Long-Range Missile
N. Korea Threatens to Fire More Missiles
U.S. and Japanese Diplomats Push for International Support on N. KoreaTags: Counterbalance, Media, Journalism, Daily, North Korea, Asia, Kim Jong
Global Tags: Washington DC, News and Politics, News, Politics, Current Events, Current Affairs, Life, Culture, Tension
A U.S. Navy aircraft director guides the pilot of an F/A-18E Super Hornet aircraft to the catapult for launch off the flight deck of the USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) as the ship operates in the Pacific Ocean on June 23, 2006. The Kitty Hawk Carrier Strike Group is participating in exercise Valiant Shield 2006, a joint exercise consisting of 28 naval vessels, more than 300 aircraft, and approximately 20,000 service members from the Navy, Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. DoD photo by Airman Stephen W. Rowe, U.S. Navy. (Released)
U.S. Navy Sailors prepare to launch a E-2c Hawkeye aircraft assigned to Fleet Logistics Combat Support Squadron Three Zero off the flight deck of USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) during flight operations in the Pacific Ocean July 5, 2006. DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Marc Rockwell-Pate. U.S. Navy. (Released)
The USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) departs from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to participate in exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) July 5, 2006. RIMPAC brings together military forces from Australia, Canada, Chile, Peru, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States in the world's largest biennial maritime exercise. DoD photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Rebecca J. Moat, U.S. Navy. (Released)
U.S. Navy Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 3rd Class Terra Lathrop ensures a patient is securely fastened on an MH-60 Knighthawk helicopter before being shuttled to the hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) July 1, 2006. Mercy, now moored outside Chittagong, Bangladesh, is conducting humanitarian and civic assistance missions during a five-month deployment to South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. DoD photo by Chief Photographer's Mate Edward G. Martens, U.S. Navy. (Released)
More Combat Camera Imagery on THE TENSION
