North Korea 2 - America 0

Let's begin with a little chronological history of North Korea's missile activity for the past few years: The information provided in the timeline was taken from sources found at USA Today and the Associated Press

July 5, 2006: North Korea launches seven missiles into waters between the Korean peninsula and Japan.
July 15, 2006: U.N. Security Council demands North Korea halt missile program.
Oct. 9, 2006: North Korea conducts underground nuclear test blast.
Oct. 15, 2006: Security Council condemns test, imposes sanctions, bans North Korea from activities related to its nuclear program.
Feb. 13, 2007: North Korea agrees to disable its main nuclear facilities in return for aid.
July 14, 2007: North Korea shuts down main Yongbyon reactor, later starts disabling it.
June 27, 2008: North Korea destroys cooling tower at Yongbyon.
Sept. 19, 2008: North Korea says it is restoring nuclear facilities at Yongbyon.
Oct. 11, 2008: United States removes North Korea from a list of states that sponsor terrorism.
Feb. 23: South Korea says North Korea has missile that can reach Australia and Guam.
April 5: Long-range rocket is launched by North Korea.
April 13: The launch is condemned by the Security Council
April 14: North Korea announces withdrawal from disarmament agreements and the beginning of restoration to partly disabled nuclear facilities.
April 25: North Korea announces start of reprocessing of spent fuel rods from its nuclear plant. A Security Council committee approves sanctions on three North Korean companies.
April 29: North Korea threatens more missile tests unless the Security Council apologizes for criticisms.
May 7-12: Special U.S. envoy on North Korea visits Asia, says Washington is ready for talks with Pyongyang.
May 8: North Korea characterizes talks with United States as useless; cites "hostile policy."
May 25: North Korea conductes underground nuclear tests and test fires two short-range missiles. Security Council says test violates U.N. resolutions.
May 26: North Korea test-fires three short-range missiles.
May 29: North Korea test-fires one short-range missile.

Now that we understand the modern history of North Korean missile technology let's just dive right into this nasty mess of global dominance. Well let's take a look back at the timeline above. If you didn't notice there are 4 times where North Korea directly defies the U.N. Security Council (July 5, 2006; October 9, 2006; April 5, 2009; and May 25, 2009) Yet there is only 1 time the U.N. actually gives them a consequence for it (October 15, 2006). And even then the "consequence" is not being permitted to participate in activities that relate to its nuclear program...not really a severe punishment for testing weapons capable of destroying an entire nation in my opinion.

So what has been done about it? I really wish I had some sense of hope to share with you in response but unfortunately...I don't. Mr. President Obama with his "let's negotiate with terrorists and tell them we're sorry and maybe they'll start to be nice to us" policy and the United Nations with their "What the heck are WE supposed to do about it" position have basically slapped North Korea on the back of the wrist and said "bad boy!". Other than that...nothing.

Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations said this in a public statement, "North Korea is 'trying to test whether they can intimidate the international community' with its nuclear and missile activity"..."But we are united, North Korea is isolated, and pressure on North Korea will increase". The problem I see with this is that North Korea has been jerking on our legs since 2006 and yet there has been absolutely no so called "increase in pressure" on the communist country since then. Sure..they did abide by the Security Council's policies throughout most of 2007 and 2008 but that wasn't because WE applied pressure to them. It's because their people were starving and they had a basically nonexistent national industry.

So what did they do?...they asked for aid and in return they gave compliance. Then what happens? A year and a half later we get them on their feet (at least their government and industry - the people are still starving to death) and now they say they don't need us. So...they start back up with missile testing. They don't fear anyone. They don't respect anyone. And you can't negotiate with someone that holds absolutely no respect for you. I can only attribute most of this to the U.N. and U.S.'s spineless leaders that have been more than willing to take it from them.

And now as a our consequence for weakness we've had two U.S. citizen journalists kidnapped and sentenced to 12 years of labor (the maximum allowed by international law), they've had 2 major nuclear and missile technology tests in the past 2 months, and we have more than a shy chance of being up against not only their defenses but also all the people they are more likely than not willing to sell the technology to for a decent price.

If Obama means what he has said so many times...that he's only doing what he feels is best for the American people; then he is either lying to himself, the nation or both of us. He is allowing North Korea to open the gate to global nuclear warfare. He is afraid of contention and shows it by putting the very people that have glorified him into office in serious danger. There are times when talking and negotiation attempts are appropriate and there are times when they aren't. Nuclear technology isn't a negotiable subject...period. Hopefully one day he will see it the way I do.

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	Obama, Lee warn North Korea	Reuters	Tue Jun 16	2