What to do about North Korea...?

Jay Honeck wrote:
Uh oh:

http://makeashorterlink.com/?I50915D5D

The news is reporting that they've launched FOUR missiles now --
possibly one that can reach the U.S. mainland...

I wonder what our Air Force guys in South Korea are doing right now...

:-(
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"


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Greg Sheridan in The Australian July 05, 2006
Burma seeks nuclear weapons alliance with N Korea

BURMA'S military junta has attempted to buy nuclear weapons technology
from North Korea's rogue regime in an alliance that presents a
frightening new threat to regional security.
The US issued a heavy-handed warning to Burmese military dictator Than
Shwe to cease and desist all such activities after discovering
Rangoon's bid late last year.


The prospect of the two pariah states of Asia joining together has
alarmed Western intelligence agencies, with the US privately
circulating a draft resolution condemning Burma's actions for the UN
Security Council.


The terms of the resolution would say that Burma constituted a "threat
to peace and security".


This would be a Chapter Six resolution, which does not imply that the
Security Council would authorise the use of force against Burma or move

directly to sanctions. But it would be the first time Burma has been
formally censured by the Security Council. It is understood that no
nuclear material has been transferred.


North Korea, which is believed to possess six or seven nuclear weapons,

has engaged in tense brinkmanship with the US, recently threatening to
launch a new generation of Taepodong missile.


If the North Koreans are able to miniaturise their nuclear weapons
sufficiently, they will eventually be able to place them on Taepodong
missiles, which are capable of reaching some targets in the US and
Australia.


Intelligence sources confirmed to The Australian that the Burmese
military had a booming relationship with the North Korean military.
Burma and North Korea do not have formal diplomatic relations. These
were broken in 1983 when, in an act of state terrorism, the North
Koreans detonated a bomb in Rangoon which killed most of the visiting
South Korean cabinet.


But Than Shwe and the equally eccentric and reclusive North Korean
leader, Kim Jong-il, have been engaged in intensive proxy diplomacy
designed to re-establish formal diplomatic relations between the two
states.


Western intelligence agencies believe Burma gets surface-to-air
missiles, artillery and small arms from North Korea. The Burmese have
also asked the Koreans for Scud missile technology.


The highly secretive Burmese state maintains the biggest army in
Southeast Asia, with a regular military estimated at about half a
million people and a paramilitary force of some 100,000.


Diplomatic observers do not believe the US resolution at this stage
would pass at the Security Council because China would oppose and, if
necessary, veto it.


However, presenting it publicly would acutely embarrass Burma's
defenders, especially China.


The resolution makes no specific mention of Burma's nuclear ambitions.
Instead it focuses on Burma's human rights abuses, which led to the
outflow of large numbers of refugees. Because of the poor state of
Burma's health services, many of these refugees are HIV-positive.


Burma also threatens international security through its drug-growing
activities. Australian authorities believe much of the heroin sold in
Australia is grown in Burma.


Apart from China, which has deep strategic interests in Burma, some
Third World members of the Security Council may also object to a
resolution based mainly on the internal human rights record of a member

nation.


Burma has also made separate inquiries with Russia over the possibility

of developing a peaceful nuclear power industry. At different times the

Burmese have denied this. The Russians are


believed to have been unresponsive to the Burmese requests.


Their lack of embassies in each other's countries has not inhibited the

development of the military-to-military relationship.


This growing relationship is ofacute concern to Western intelligence.


Both Burma and North Korea have their chief external strategic
relationship with China.


China sees Burma as an important strategic asset.


Much Chinese diplomacy has centred on energy security and Burma offers
China substantial oil and gas reserves.


Burma also offers China strategic reach into the Indian Ocean through
access to its naval ports.


It also provides China with enhanced intelligence capabilities through
intelligence establishments, especially on the Burmese border with
India.


Burma's ruling military junta has become increasingly erratic and
unpredictable in recent years. Last year, it moved its entire capital
from Rangoon to Pyinmana in central Burma andbuilt a new capital,
virtually from scratch.


This was apparently because it feared a US attack on Rangoon, but the
timing of the move, which was scheduled to within a minute, was
reportedly determined by astrological readings.


At the same time as cracking down on the opposition National League for

Democracy, headed by imprisoned Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, the
Burmese regime has intensified a vicious war against the Karen and
other ethnic minorities.


The other nine members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
are increasingly frustrated with Burma.


Malaysia's Foreign Minister, Syed Hamid, called last month for the UN
to take responsibility for encouraging the Rangoon junta towards
greater openness and moderation.


This call represents a humiliation for ASEAN and a realisation that the

strategy of reforming Burma through ASEAN membership has failed.


Some ASEAN leaders have asked US President George W.Bush to take a hard

line on Burma to help break the paralysis on political movement within
the country.


The Americans are considering convening a meeting of like-minded
nations to discuss Burma at ministerial level at this year's ASEAN
meetings, scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur later this month.


Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has committed to attend
this meeting.


The Japanese and some members of ASEAN are likely to beinvited.


Mr Downer is also likely to meet Burma's Foreign Minister in Kuala
Lumpur.


Last November, the UN Security Council met privately for a briefing on
Burma from a member of the UN Secretariat, the first time the Security
Council had considered Burma, even informally.


The international mood is hardening against Burma and this could result

in renewed calls to expel it from ASEAN.

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Monk

Jay Honeck wrote:
Uh oh:

http://makeashorterlink.com/?I50915D5D

The news is reporting that they've launched FOUR missiles now --
possibly one that can reach the U.S. mainland...

I wonder what our Air Force guys in South Korea are doing right now...

:-(

They are flying as usual.

I would not be terribly surprised if we had done something to make sure
the launch failed. It would not be that hard for an Aegis cruiser to
shoot the thing down on launch. (Note to megalomaniacs with dreams of
world domination: do not put your launching pads on the coast.)

North Korea simply hopes to shake down the US for more aid and
concessions. Their sabre rattling has always succeeded in doing this
before. They have no reason to believe it will not work this time.

China needs to start playing ball with us on a few things, or maybe we
will start taking another look at giving Taiwan a seat on the Security
Council.

The Philippines newspapers are full of stories about the launches and
editorials condemning them. The government here does not think that
North Korea needs missiles of any kind.