The United Nations have put in place a whole bunch of santions (fat lot of good they have done!) designed to halt North Koreas nuclear ambitions. Both in terms of developing a bomb (that worked well!) and the means to deliver it. So far, they can reach the South, large parts of China, and worringly for me, all of Japan.
As it stands, the new Taepodong 2 has a calculated range of 6,000km. Even though the recent test was about half of that. Since they have doubled its range in a few years, 6,000km is not far off. Putting Alaska and Singapore within Range, Australia and Moscow are uncomfortably close to its limits, and Europe will be in range with the Taepodong 3.
Should we be getting all stressed out over a "satellite launch?" Quite frankly, yes. It does not take much imagination to switch a satellite launcher into a cruise missile. They are, in effect, one and the same. The Japanese are trying to sweep the ocean to pull out any scraps they can, to ty to find out what the North actually launched. The North said that if the Japanese pull any parts of its missile out of the ocean, it would be a declaration of war. Having said that, the North has hardly any navy so is not a massive threat to the Japanese islands. The Japanese have moved sea and land based anti-missile batteries to cover Japan (though it is unlikely they will tackle 100% of everything launched). Also, the North calls everything a declaration of war. Its getting old.
Should North Korea be punished? I dont know. What we need is for China to stop mucking around and get serious. With China in its corner, Kim is happy to act like a schoolyard bully that thinks hes "all that." I can see why China wants North Korea to remain. They dont care about the suffering of the people. China only pays lip service to human rights. However, should North Korea fall (and its more likely to collapse under the financial weight of its army, than the South) and re-join South Korea, China will have an uncomfortable situation with a proudly democratic nation, fiercely independant, and enjoying one helluva lifestyle! Hong Kong was not such an issue for China. It was, after all, a colony. Not a separate nation. So, all that happened to Hong Kong was that it switched from one owner to another. With a united Korea just next door, one that is less likely to be bullied by China, and not in their pocket, it gets harder for China. The Chinese like to tell its people that China's government offers the best life for its people. With Korea just over a bridge, and so visible, it spells trouble!
Is Japan right to be so worried? Well, yes. Unlike the UK, all the Japanese home islands are in range of the missiles that the Korean DPR possesses. Whilst most of them are pointed at the South, a good chunk of them will be aimed at Tokyo. A missile launched from the North will take less than 10 minutes to strike the north of Japan. Leaving the southern cities much closer.
Another major problem is WHICH North Korea do you deal with? With Hitlers Germany it was "easier." After all, Hitler was a raging megalomaniac, with psycotic tendencies all the time. With North Korea, sometimes you get the crazies, other times, they can be quite helpful. Almost as if the entire nation is bipolar.
I am sure that it will work itself out. Maybe sometime this century. I know the North is not so stupid to launch something at Japan, as the North would be on the recieving end of a helluva kicking. Unfortunately, it is not something I can be 100% about.
Living next to the worlds biggest nuclear power plant has never felt so uncomfortable.
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