April 12th, 2012
09:15 PM ET

Why North Korea gets away with it

Editor's Note: Jennifer Lind is an assistant professor of government at Dartmouth College. This was originally published in Foreign Affairs.

By Jennifer Lind, Foreign Affairs

U.S.–North Korea relations recently enjoyed 16 optimistic days: between February 29, when Pyongyang signed the “Leap Day” arms control agreement with the United States, and March 16, when it announced plans to conduct the very kind of rocket launch that it had just forsworn. Reacting to the announcement of the satellite launch, which is intended to commemorate the centenary of founding father Kim Il Sung’s birth, U.S. President Barack Obama warned North Korea about the consequences of provocation and called on China to stop “turning a blind eye” to the North Korean nuclear program.

The denunciations Obama and others have been making sound like a familiar refrain. “Rules must be binding, violations must be punished, words must mean something,” Obama said in his now-famous Prague speech, in which he condemned North Korea’s April 2009 rocket launch. But the rules aren’t binding, North Korea’s violations aren’t meaningfully punished, words are mostly just words, and China does little.

North Korea’s saber rattling today represents only the most recent episode in a long history of unpunished provocation. In 1968, North Korean forces seized a U.S. Navy ship and its crew, and in 1976, they killed with an axe two U.S. servicemen who were trying to trim an overhanging tree in the demilitarized zone. (The Americans responded to the latter incident by dispatching the most heavily armed landscaping operation in world history, with tree-trimmers in the DMZ accompanied by jets flying overhead.) Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the regime repeatedly attempted to assassinate the South Korean president; in 1974, South Korea’s first lady was killed when a suspected agent from the North tried to shoot President Park Chung Hee.

Read: Kim Jong Un Takes the World’s Worst Job.

In another presidential assassination attempt, in 1983, North Korean operatives planted a bomb in Rangoon that killed several South Korean cabinet members and other government officials. Four years later, agents bombed a civilian airplane, killing all 115 aboard. More recently, the North Korean military torpedoed the South Korean frigate Cheonan and shelled South Korea’s Yeonpyeong Island in 2010. In every instance, the joint U.S.-South Korean command, Combined Forces Command (CFC), has let North Korea get away with its misbehavior. One sanctions regime after another has not deterred aggression.

Restraint in the face of such provocation is unusual, in particular for the United States, which has not been shy about using military force when it or its allies are attacked. For example, Manuel Noriega’s military forces harassed Americans in Panama and killed a U.S. marine; the United States invaded and deposed Noriega. In 1986, Libya bombed a West Berlin disco frequented by U.S. servicemen; the U.S. military launched air strikes in Libya, killing Muammar al-Qaddafi’s daughter.

Read on here.

Post by:
Topics: North Korea

soundoff (134 Responses)
  1. Billy

    They didn’t “get away with it”. It was an excellent opportunity for some free target practice. I’m for one am glad to know our anti-ballistic missile system works. Additionally, since they “broke the rules”, now we can take a little reprieve from paying them off not to launch…

    April 12, 2012 at 9:34 pm | Reply
    • berserkr35

      Billy, we didn't shoot it down.

      April 12, 2012 at 10:50 pm | Reply
      • Chris69

        Are you sure we didnt shoot it down..It would have been a great test for our new Lazer defense system that we have been working on.. ????

        April 12, 2012 at 11:24 pm |
      • McGuffin

        The point of the missile defense system is as a deterrent, so if it had had another successful test, the world would be made to know about it. It's not advantageous to keep its successes secret.

        April 13, 2012 at 2:26 am |
      • jkflipflop

        The primary function isn't "a deterrent". . .it's shooting down missiles. And yes, keeping it a secret is the best way to go because if the enemy knows you can shoot down any incoming ICBM, they'll carry then im by boat, plane, or train instead where you can't stop it like you could an ICBM.

        The real deterrent is the US military. All major world leaders know that if you attack the United States, we will wipe you off the map.

        April 13, 2012 at 2:50 am |
      • Jesse from KC

        Wow, some people on this comment thread don't know what they're talking about.

        I don't know if we shot it down or not, but I for one don't think we did. I don't think we had to. The 3rd stage, where it went down, is the most difficult to predict and control, and is where all the rockets in the past went down.

        I do, however, think that they plan to BLAME it on us. They're admitting it went down this time when in the past they didn't, so they're going to blame it on something other than incompetence.

        As for what one person said about how if they knew we could shoot down ICBM's they'd just take them in by planes, trains and automobiles (paraphrasing a bit there), "Where we couldn't stop them", do you even think before you speak? You think it's easier to shoot down an ICBM than it is to stop a ship at sea from entering your waters, or a plane from flying into your airspace? Really?

        April 13, 2012 at 8:49 am |
      • Chris

        jkflipflop, "wiped off the map" eh? Yeah, it's a good thing we wiped those Taliban off the map. And especially Al Qaeda, they're totally extinct now. In fact, this probably explains why countries like Iran and North Korea always do exactly what we want, because they saw how we totally won smashing victories in Iraq and Afghanistan.

        April 13, 2012 at 9:22 am |
      • The Count

        jkflipflop are you for real? I truly hope you are just a troll.

        April 16, 2012 at 1:08 pm |
    • Charlie

      Are you telling me that Reagan's Star Wars system really works? Be quiet, don't tell the liberals.

      April 13, 2012 at 3:18 am | Reply
      • Paul

        Star wars was proposed, but never implemented. Can't fool this liberal.

        April 13, 2012 at 8:07 am |
      • paul

        Sorry, Charlie. It does not, in fact, work.

        April 13, 2012 at 8:19 am |
      • jj

        So Charile, if you think we shot it down....then you like how President Obama handled this. Can't have it both ways...a lib is in charge, so if you like what he did...then say so. C'mon 2 face.

        April 13, 2012 at 8:54 am |
      • Chris

        I'm sure Charlie thinks that Sarah Palin ordered the strike, or something..

        April 13, 2012 at 9:24 am |
      • OKC

        Yes, Charlie it does work..........only the partical beam has not been built. It took about 20 years for it (just as predicted) but yes it does work.

        April 13, 2012 at 9:44 am |
      • Pete

        Hey Charlie,Reagan at that point didn't know what day it was,he was that senile.His wife ,if you read much,pretty much ran the show in his 2nd term,a fact let out years later by their son.She did much of the decisions of his term using Tara cards,she was an astrology fanatic,also a belated fact.So the fact is, most of you republican fanatics also senile because Romney sure acts it,flipflopping or not...

        April 14, 2012 at 7:41 pm |
    • j. von hettlingen

      All those atrocities the author mentioned were committed during the rule of Kim Il-sung, who died in 1994. The country went broke and couldn't afford any more extra-territorial operations. His son and successor Kim Jong-il seemed to be quite "peaceful". Only two deeds could be attributed to him: "the North Korean military torpedoed the South Korean frigate Cheonan and shelled South Korea’s Yeonpyeong Island in 2010". Time will tell how Kim Jong-un portrays himself.

      April 13, 2012 at 5:59 am | Reply
      • Mike

        Since when is starving your citizens an act of peace?

        April 13, 2012 at 8:50 am |
      • Chris

        Mike, since when is starving your own citizens an Act of War against another country?

        April 13, 2012 at 9:30 am |
    • jj

      The launch failed...we didn't shoot it down.

      April 13, 2012 at 8:51 am | Reply
    • dgeiger

      The payoff for North Korea is that if it worked they would have an ICBM they could market to others. The payoff for us is that potential buyers don't know if we sot it down or not.

      April 13, 2012 at 9:20 am | Reply
  2. David Reams

    This is exactly why Iran want the "bomb", it's a bargaining chip which every country respects. NK gets away with all it's bad acts and cruelty to it's citizens because they have "the bomb".
    Israel, India, Pakistan all get away with ignoring UN resolutions, flaunting conventions and international law because they have WMD.
    Iran would be crazy NOT to want to join the nuclear club, it's the "get out of jail free" card in world politics.

    April 12, 2012 at 9:42 pm | Reply
    • mikrik13

      Since when does our government care about NK citizens. The American government doesn't even care about its own citizens.

      April 15, 2012 at 10:33 am | Reply
  3. TheMovieFan

    North Korea does what it does because China is to its North.

    April 12, 2012 at 9:55 pm | Reply
    • jb

      Fail.

      April 13, 2012 at 6:10 am | Reply
    • OKC

      Yes, China protects them..........nothing to do with a weapon they might have.....there public test was a dude, didn't quite live up to the hype.

      April 13, 2012 at 10:00 am | Reply
  4. johnd

    Yes they will the current leadership (USA) will just apologies to the south Korea for it, and give them a stern talking to.. and perhaps sanctions.. until they launch one that works

    April 12, 2012 at 9:58 pm | Reply
    • Tom

      Oh please, enough with "current leadership" malarkey. This has been going on for fifty years with leadership of both parties, though it must be pointed out that the North Koreans only dared to test a nuclear device when they knew our military was spread too thin fighting a war of choice in Iraq. And we're still in the same boat now. We cannot afford another war right now and the North Koreans know it, so they will push it right to the limit. What's needed now is patience,not cowboy swagger; North Korea will collapse eventually. We just have to be prepared to ensure that its collapse doesn't take the rest of Asia with it.

      April 12, 2012 at 10:32 pm | Reply
      • McGuffin

        Well said

        April 13, 2012 at 2:28 am |
      • shawn l

        Exactly.

        April 13, 2012 at 2:43 am |
      • mdamone

        Time. It buys a lot of progress – whether missile capability for NK or nuke enrichment for Iran. It is very easy to play the "let's just wait and be patient – they have to collapse at some point, right?" card. And meanwhile time goes on and weapons capability is advanced.
        "Time" and "patience" was the exact strategy of Czech, Poland and France toward Nazi Germany. In fact, it was Chamberlain's policy with Hitler AFTER Nazi German "absorbed" Austria and Czech. Look up what happened to the Munich agreement.
        In the 1940's, the policy we now call "patience" and "continued negotiation" had a more accurate name: appeasement. It did not work then with aggressive dictatorships. It does not work now. Waiting for NK's apparent "collapse" could result in further aggression. And who could blame them? A new leader with a reputation to uphold from his father, playing the hard line against countries like the US who merely give proposals of suggested sanctions at UN meetings.

        "Patience" and toleration have their place, but have also caused hundreds of millions of innocent deaths in the world, too. Counting on NK's "collapse" is ignorant and naive. Would China let NK go under??

        The US has used appeasement with bullies before. And it has not worked in one single case. Not one. In more cases than not it has resulted in further aggression, eventual war and millions of civilian deaths.
        Yet it is amazing how many of those simply afraid of confrontation want to follow the same 'ol historically failed policies. Our current foreign policy towards NK and Iran is like an ostrich with its head in the sand. SK and Israel keep warning us – they have learned from history – but the US doesn't listen.
        Sanctions have their place. But they also have an end to their effectiveness. Our foreign image is weak right now – and we are to blame. The "Oh, they know better. And besides, they'll collapse. Heck, the USSR did!" argument is old and ineffective.
        Proof? Guaranteed that if NK or Iran had developed a missile that could reach US shores you would be hearing a very different tune from the White House...

        April 13, 2012 at 3:35 am |
      • The wrong Kim

        Waiting to collapse? You can wait forever. Have you any idea how an impoverished country like North Korea is able to have rockets and nuclear technology. If you are expecting a revolution that will shake North Korea, you are expecting nothing.

        April 13, 2012 at 10:45 am |
  5. ngcawley

    So it seems we must tolerate the bully in the school yard because he says he's got something mean in the lunch box.... And we complain about bullying in our schools.....OK (But I don't get it)

    April 12, 2012 at 10:15 pm | Reply
    • Rz

      Good analogy ! Viewing a nation or a group as a child helps provide a good perspective. So does looking at it from outer space sometimes.

      April 13, 2012 at 7:14 am | Reply
    • Chris

      It's actually a bad analogy. A better analogy is living in an apartment complex near a wife-beating jerk who's next door neighbors include one of your best friends and your close business associate, one are also the jerk's older brother and the other is the jerk's father-in-law. The gas main is in the jerk's apartment. You can hear him abusing his family, and he lets his dog poop on his brother's stoop, but to stop him will cause the whole apartment complex to go up in flames to at least some extent.

      April 13, 2012 at 9:54 am | Reply
  6. Enlightened 4

    Wonder if the writer has ever heard the term-–Yellow bellied useless threats--from the west?

    April 12, 2012 at 10:27 pm | Reply
    • Mavent

      I wonder if YOU'VE ever heard the term "minding your own business"?

      April 12, 2012 at 11:23 pm | Reply
  7. berserkr35

    If we send them food they will behave...............Oh, no, we already tried that, several times.

    April 12, 2012 at 10:52 pm | Reply
    • Socrates

      Maybe we can give them 5 billions dollars every year same as we do with Israel.

      April 12, 2012 at 11:33 pm | Reply
  8. chris

    Of course this rocket is only for civilian purposes. That's the same thing the North Koreans said about their nuclear program. That they were building it for electricity and not nuclear weapons. We've been here before and I for one an hoping this time it ends differently. I can't imagine North Korea having nuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles. Remember Iran is using the same blueprint that North Korea did. The "do you mind if we work while you talk" ruse.

    April 12, 2012 at 10:52 pm | Reply
  9. Tim Rigney

    I don't see why we don't just plain completely ignore these little temper tantrums. "North Korea negotiates from a position of strength?" – Well – So WHAT? How is that *our* problem?
    Temper tantrums in children should be ignored or their reinforced as a rewarded behavior.
    We should negotiate with whom we want when we want as we want, especially when we're the party being asked for favors.

    April 12, 2012 at 11:03 pm | Reply
    • herbivore

      Finally. The answer. And erase the rest of the mumbles. Don't answer the phone. Don't reply. Ignore the tantrum from The Child. Most of all, stop rewarding the incorrigible. No talk. No ,money. No food. No interest. And should they harm somebody, smack them so bad they will never do it again. How did this tumor ever get so much attention?

      April 13, 2012 at 1:54 am | Reply
      • JoJothemonkeyboy

        Tim & Herbivore, I couldn't agree more. Send NK to bed hungry and let them pout in their room, when they are ready to act like an adult they can give us a call and we will let them know when we are ready to talk.

        April 13, 2012 at 10:31 am |
  10. matt c

    Looks like after today's launch, it will be some time before they can regroup with another test. Their telemetry may be substandard, so correcting problems–especially when the West finds the missile–may be long in coming.

    They'll continue to rant on one hand and beg for subsistence.

    Hope the administration doesn't continue with past practices.

    April 12, 2012 at 11:25 pm | Reply
  11. Dumb

    Mr. Fareed can you kindly take your mus.loid self back the the sand hole hell in the mid east and never write another article. Please! Your an idiot! You look creepy! And to be honest nobody likes you!

    April 12, 2012 at 11:27 pm | Reply
    • IhaveID

      @Dumb,
      1. Fareed Zakaria is not an idiot, he has a Doctor of Philosophy in political science from Harvard University.
      2. He's not from "the the sand hole hell in the mid east" you speak of, he's from India.
      3. You are accusing him of writing an article he didn't write. At the end of the article it clearly states
      "The views expressed in this article are solely those of Jennifer Lind." But you would have had to read the article to know that.
      Interesting name you picked for yourself.

      April 13, 2012 at 12:07 am | Reply
      • Danny Sausagee

        Not to insult anyone, but you think just because someone has a Phd. that automatically makes them an intelligent individual? I had the unfortunate privilege to meet a few people that had a Phd in various fields and their level of intelligence and personal behavior left a ton to be desired. Personally Fareed isn't the authority on many of the issues he talks about, he tends to be skewed and biased and a good many times plain uninformed. Most of the things he talks about are just regurgitations of others, no more no less. Little information and even less substance. Typical CNN reporting.

        April 13, 2012 at 7:54 am |
      • Chris

        Sausagee, I'll trust Fareed's bona-fides for being smart way more than I'll trust yours as a judge of such matters.

        April 13, 2012 at 9:58 am |
      • johnny

        hahaha ... bottoms up !

        April 13, 2012 at 12:45 pm |
    • ran76

      Don't feed the troll, people

      April 13, 2012 at 1:26 am | Reply
  12. Socrates

    Why North Korea gets away with it. Why Israel get away with anything.

    April 12, 2012 at 11:32 pm | Reply
  13. Peter

    I'm normally a peaceful person, but wouldn't it be worth our while to just go in there and depose that government? It would be over in a matter of minutes and the world would be a better place for a lot of people, us included.

    April 12, 2012 at 11:38 pm | Reply
    • Bill

      Go re-read the article.

      There are thousands of artillery pieces within range of Seoul; North Korea has the largest artillery force in the world. There are over 10 million people living in Seoul and if NK shelled it thousands if not tens of thousands would die. And that ignores if they slip a nuke into a harbor somewhere aboard a freighter with an auto navigation system (who needs missiles?). Now are you really ready to sacrifice all those people?

      April 13, 2012 at 12:23 am | Reply
    • Patrick

      Damned if you do, damned if you don't!

      April 13, 2012 at 8:37 am | Reply
    • Chris

      Lets see, several of the world largest and most important economies take a bullet to the head, tens or even hundreds of thousands of people die, several of the worlds largest and most vibrant cities are in ruins, and the region which is the one of the most important drivers of the world economy doesn't recover for a generation.. all so we can stop NK from conducting failed rocket launches. Great plan.

      April 13, 2012 at 10:08 am | Reply
  14. Klaark

    Yes, punish them for launching a rocket into the air...and building nukes. Only an evil, evil, country would do such a thing. Heck, bomb them! Kill thousands! That strategy seems to solve problems.

    April 12, 2012 at 11:42 pm | Reply
    • war.

      grow some balls. the last thing this world needs is countries like iran and korea having nukes. apathy is lethal.

      April 13, 2012 at 12:20 am | Reply
      • Chris

        NK has had them for years. Seen any mushroom clouds lately?

        April 13, 2012 at 10:09 am |
  15. wowzerz

    rofl, we shot it down with the new vibration laser we have haha

    April 12, 2012 at 11:49 pm | Reply
  16. svensson1965

    North Korea gets away with it because they are the slow kid who lives down the block.
    You tell him to stop pooping on your lawn but seriously he's harmless and really what are you gonna do?

    April 13, 2012 at 12:05 am | Reply
  17. war.

    they get away with it because obama and co are a bunch of spineless hippy liberals that believe in diplomacy, sanctions, and other things that obviously dont work.

    April 13, 2012 at 12:07 am | Reply
    • Pepinium

      Ok war, do you feel better after that bowel movement of a statement? Or is your brain still hurting from the action? No real need to put you in your place since you already did that with your idiotic comment. Good luck cruising through life with an IQ of 61, :) .

      April 13, 2012 at 9:58 am | Reply
    • Pete

      Hey war,why not listen to you,send a B-1 or better yet a B-52 with a 20 mega ton payload.Have an air burst at let's say,1500ft,no problem,turn everything within 5-10 square miles to glass.Then sit back and hope to God that the radioactive fallout from it drifting around in a cloud doesn't end up here.The fallout from the steam released from the reactor rod meltdown at the Fuchushima daiichi power plant was picked up by geiger counter in New York state,some 6800 miles away.So you nuclear wizz kids have fun blowing up the world,because the areas contaminated are only HOT for about 1500 years,no problem.Hope ya got enough food and beer ta get ya thru it,that's all...

      April 14, 2012 at 5:32 pm | Reply
  18. Saran Kumar Limbu

    What a shame on world leaders!
    It confirms that the current world leaders only know how to blow up their throats to make their voice louder to be heard bt the public and attract them by telling all the good things. This was the reality, if anyone who thinks he is the leader then one should follow the leadership of DPRK. He did it because he was a decisive leader regardless of the threats from round the world.
    Now what can the said to be the best world leaders do? only sit back with a cup of coffee and watch the flight!

    April 13, 2012 at 12:31 am | Reply
    • Chris

      Unfortunately they didn't get to finish that coffee since the rocket doinked into the sea. Great job!

      April 13, 2012 at 10:12 am | Reply
  19. JY15

    It seems to me that the only thing more dangerous than nuclear weapons are malfunctioning nuclear weapons.

    April 13, 2012 at 12:34 am | Reply
  20. YuliqMahbaht

    Nope! We had nothing to do with that fiasco... North Korea just isn't making rivets like they used to.

    April 13, 2012 at 12:34 am | Reply
  21. Brad76

    Why they get away with this garbage? Because they're holding a gun to South Korea's head, and China is protecting them?

    April 13, 2012 at 1:30 am | Reply
    • yuri pelham

      General Macarthur had it right.

      April 13, 2012 at 8:32 am | Reply
  22. John

    This entire article could have been summarized in 2 words. Why do they get away with it? "Nuclear weapons"!

    April 13, 2012 at 2:42 am | Reply
    • Danny Sausagee

      How about the article says: They get away with it, because they can and because Israel and the US get away with practically anything. I am all for peace, but for goodness sake who is to say that we are always right.

      April 13, 2012 at 7:46 am | Reply
  23. Ted

    The North Korean citizens bellys are full, and their huts are warm and toasty because of the love given to them by 'The Dear Leader'. Who could ask for more?

    April 13, 2012 at 3:31 am | Reply
    • Pepinium

      I agree 100% Ted, heck, in another 50 years of " enlightened leadership" the North Koreans may even hear about the Internet, :) . Forward the FatherLand !!!

      April 13, 2012 at 10:03 am | Reply
  24. catchyname

    So why doesn't the U.S. do a "missile test" and fire a couple dozen low flying missiles over North Korea and into the ocean?

    I don't understand why the U.S. just talks about North Korea, then when NK crosses the line in teh sand the U.S. just says ok dont do that again please.

    April 13, 2012 at 5:43 am | Reply
  25. Hangry Birds

    The Korean war ended in a stalemate because the UN forces didn't push through up to China which is North Korean lone ally. Are we going to take the same route again if war broke out in Korean Peninsula.

    April 13, 2012 at 5:45 am | Reply
    • about that

      Last i checked, they were still at war.... cease fire doesnt mean the war is over. just saying....

      April 13, 2012 at 9:38 am | Reply
      • about that

        are*

        April 13, 2012 at 9:39 am |
    • Chris

      No, Hangry Birds, next time we'll invade China and take over. We'll make all them Chinese learn english and listen to country music like they're s'posed ta'. We would have done it back in the Korean War except Obama fired MacArthur so's he could appologize to the Chinese leader, Mohammed.

      April 13, 2012 at 10:17 am | Reply
  26. Anonymous

    Here's what I think.... Let them shoot off a couple more defective rockets. By then... they won't be able to support NK People. What happens next? Revolution... or "de-Communism" occurs. They won't have any money left if they keep pursuing this avenue of stupidity. Stop helping..... What have they (NK) done for us? Look at South Korea's economy.... They are a picture of success. We need to stop rewarding countries with money that hide their illegal activities and fail to comply with UN proliferation. Until this happens the countries that receive aid from the US will continue to abuse our charity. Just my 2 cents.

    April 13, 2012 at 6:13 am | Reply
  27. Mark

    How do you get a communist dictator who lives in luxury while the people have nothing to see that "he is not governing in the peoples interest" In the name of Communism, the extremist religion of dictators, the dictator will die with his illusion alive and pass the illusion to his successor. Identify every palace, luxury building, and vacation spot that the Korea lead likes and flatten it. When he has to live like the people, he might rethink what he is doing. It is unfortunate that the people must follow someone just because he's the only man with the gun. The world should rethink their approach to North Korea. Enough is enough.

    April 13, 2012 at 6:54 am | Reply
  28. yuri pelham

    let them starve

    April 13, 2012 at 7:54 am | Reply
    • The wrong Kim

      Yes, you can starve the innocent North Korean, but the loonies on the nuclear joystick are well fed, and living in luxuries. It's impossible to infiltrate this people because you have to pass either through China or DMZ.

      April 13, 2012 at 10:26 am | Reply
  29. David

    How many Americans want to die by being dragged into a war for Israel. If you lived in North Korea or Iran, given the US has been involved in creating wars in both those countries, you would want a nuclear war head too! To protect yourselves from the Americans and Israel....as the Palestinians! If the US wants to be be the bully of the world be prepared for those countries to right back! The US is such a great country with such a bully-mentality. Too bad. It use to be a leader of the free world and then along 'came the Bushes'.

    April 13, 2012 at 8:00 am | Reply
    • Jim

      You need to realize that Iran has been the "Walmart" to terrorists for decades.
      They are and always have been the number one state sponsor of terrorism.

      SOooo. You believe they should be allowed the ability to produce nuclear weapons?

      April 13, 2012 at 8:10 am | Reply
      • rlowens1

        You know this how? Because, you heard it on CNN? Fox? Face it, you are subject to the same mind-numbing rhetoric as the rest of us. Your opinions are based on what you have heard from others, and not experience on the ground with the facts. The fact of the matter that requires no verification because it is so obvious is that conflict in the middle east is more profitable than peace. When the region was in a relative state of peace, oil was $11 per barrel. Look where it is, now, and who is profiting off that fact. Then, you will begin to understand why there will NEVER be peace in the middle east (at least, not until we are all dead or no longer care about oil).

        Two major industries profit off of conflict in the middle east – defense and the oil industries. But, you know what? There isn't any clear path to profit for North Korea. Sure, the defense industry gets a boost, but if it destroys the world economy in the process., it wasn't worth it. But, they can wage war with cave-dwellers with sand in their underwear forever with no such risk.

        April 13, 2012 at 8:27 am |
      • Jim

        to rlowens1:

        Although there is some valid logic to your point of view.
        I agree, the powers that be have grown fat and happy on the staus quo in the middle east.
        that still doesn't change the fact that Iran has been sponsoring terrorism.

        That's no ones opinion.

        Unless you're a severe anti-semite, then you'll understand the danger of allowing a country who's "Supreme Leader" publicly stated (recently), that "Israel is a cancer and it will be cut out soon"

        Iran hits Israel with a nuclear weapon and the ensuing domino affect could begin about ww3.

        April 13, 2012 at 8:45 am |
  30. Jim

    Not hard to understand.
    Our gov't has never and will never do anything to anger China.
    Whether it's out of fear of harming a trade relationship, or just general fear of their military capability.

    I would bet that the reason we've never reacted to NK misbehaviour and never will, comes down to a very simple answer:

    Fear of China

    April 13, 2012 at 8:04 am | Reply
    • rlowens1

      It is not fear of China that keeps out of war. It is that fear of war is more profitable than actual war.

      April 13, 2012 at 8:16 am | Reply
  31. Mattski

    WIth cases like NK, there are two choices. Play along and hope for the best, or go to war. And despite all the tough-guy talk of nuking anyone we don't like, the truth is we're not going to do that wihtout a serious material threat - or at least we shouldn't. So you play along and hope they don't do something foolish that requires a genuine military response. That's been the way with Iran, NK, Syria, etc. There's really no other option.

    April 13, 2012 at 8:04 am | Reply
  32. rlowens1

    Perhaps, we should start playing the game like they do. Let's retaliate in some limited fashion, militarily, and see how they react – then, ignore their reaction and retaliate, again. Let's strike their launch pad and dare them to do something about it.

    We can play our own "crazy irrational" card – and, the North Koreans know we can pull it off, too (so does China). No one wants a nuclear exchange – no one. So, I suspect, like we tolerate their infractions, they too will tolerate ours. Let's see if the little North Korea can successfully play chicken with a Mac truck.

    April 13, 2012 at 8:08 am | Reply
  33. rlowens1

    We need to announce to the world, in advance, that we intend to take out their launch pad in retaliation for their launch and dare anyone to do anything about it – then, we need to actually do it, while ignoring all opposing rhetoric. Then, back to business as usuall. We don't have to get emotional about it. We can just do it and dare them to do anything about it.

    April 13, 2012 at 8:13 am | Reply
    • justguess

      you talk like a kid

      April 13, 2012 at 10:15 pm | Reply
  34. Willie12345

    Why do they get away with it ? Have you looked in the WH recently? The aid is going to them regardless of their breaking promises. They have fooled the US State Department far too many times for far too many years. The same holds true with Iran.

    April 13, 2012 at 8:56 am | Reply
  35. jj

    Every time I read a blog, I'm frightened by the low level of intelligence that people are willing to share. There needs to be a "test" of some sort to allow voting cuz it's scary that some of you have input into who leads.

    April 13, 2012 at 9:05 am | Reply
    • Smako

      "Low level of intelligence," then you use the word "cuz."

      April 13, 2012 at 9:18 am | Reply
  36. alan

    The only people not deterred by nuclear weapons are the Arabs. They know Israel has them, but still think they can send the Jews packing. Morons

    April 13, 2012 at 9:09 am | Reply
  37. Yoda

    I predict many harri karri's for top level PRNK!!! Hoo sooo!!!!

    April 13, 2012 at 9:11 am | Reply
    • Chris

      Wrong culture, but then all those Asians look the same to you, eh Yoda?

      April 13, 2012 at 10:20 am | Reply
  38. anticolonialism

    the US and west have been bullying the "axis of evil" that have been standing up to the blood-sucking bully.

    April 13, 2012 at 9:14 am | Reply
  39. Sick

    A well-thought out article. Very good points included. I agree that there is no "correct" diplomatic solution to this crisis and that at best the world and North Korea are on shaky ground; at worst, it can be a scortched earth policy with all out war with North Korea. This is just like the final exam question where there really is no right answer and creativity on a solution is what is needed. For those of you who are all trigger happy, your stance is very ignorant and short sighted. No one here who disagrees with you that the acts by North Korea are cute – the rest just believe that there is a delicate and fine line to tread when dealing with this unstable regime.

    April 13, 2012 at 9:16 am | Reply
  40. Smako

    Reagans "Star Wars" missile defense system was a charged particle beam combined with a laser. It worked in a perfect vacuum, space has gasses, it is not a perfect vacuum.
    There is a new laser that is supposed to be the best bet yet, but we didn't use it, you can't conceal something that uses as much energy as St Louis in order to work.
    North Korea gets away with it for a reason much more simple than you would expect. They have a photo of a high ranking US official in a brothel, the photo involves a midget with a leather mask and a bull whip with a lubricated handle, of all of the explanations there could be for letting North Korea get away with things, isn't this explanation the most plausable?

    April 13, 2012 at 9:17 am | Reply
  41. vegamatic

    We simply need to apologize more. It has worked wonders in the Mid-East.........

    April 13, 2012 at 9:23 am | Reply
  42. yrral

    come on folks we burned a hole in the side of that thing just like all the other times they have tried to launch one. aint technology grand

    April 13, 2012 at 9:27 am | Reply
  43. DavidInNC

    To control NK, we have to apply some real and meaningful pressure. That pressure has to come through China. The US has to announce a total trade embargo against all Chinese goods entering the US.

    April 13, 2012 at 9:39 am | Reply
  44. Jeff

    You're joking, right? The "US Military" as a deterrent? The haven't been able to defeat a Sone Age country in 10 years!
    And this is with the most expensive hardware on Earth!

    April 13, 2012 at 10:18 am | Reply
  45. nuc those terrorists

    russia= china= communist=iran-syria shiia thugs=iraqi shiia=hizboallah= evil

    April 13, 2012 at 12:06 pm | Reply
  46. larry5

    Has Obama apologized to North Korea yet for the harsh words from other US officials?

    April 13, 2012 at 3:17 pm | Reply
  47. Oscar

    It´s absolutely remarkable how they've been letting them do almost what they want to..without getting appropiate punish for it...

    April 13, 2012 at 4:25 pm | Reply
  48. Ba'al

    North Korea gets away with all this and is paid off with billions of dollars from America in food and fuel simply because unlike Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan the North Koreans have a large and fairly modern military. America would be in for a real fight if a war broke out and looking back at recent conflicts with 3rd and 4th world military conflicts America would be bloodied. I believe in the end if China stayed out America would win against North Korea but at a huge cost in American lives.

    April 14, 2012 at 9:53 am | Reply
  49. ed

    once again north korea has thumbed its nose at the world body to launch a rocket, violation after violation without recource. its time to act with what ever is needed even if it means attacking it. the north korean people are suffering the time to end it is now

    April 14, 2012 at 12:40 pm | Reply
  50. RMc

    Quit payin loan interest to China unless they do something about DPRK. Force China to be the boogeyman for a change.

    April 14, 2012 at 2:42 pm | Reply
  51. AlexShch

    Gets away with WHAT? A failed rocket launch? What is a big deal?

    April 14, 2012 at 7:39 pm | Reply
  52. Alfred H

    China has alreadly sent a threat message towards the North Koreans on Chinese news media if you don't cooperate we will use full military force against ya'll

    April 14, 2012 at 8:12 pm | Reply
  53. fdslfdsfhjkdhfdjsfhjkdsfhdjksfhdskjfhkdsjfhdskjlfhdkslfhkdsaljfhdkjlshkjfkldslfdjklsfhvdksljhvdkjlhvdkhvdvjkfvnfjdkvbfdkjvbfdkj;vbfk;avbfjka;

    North Korea is the Detroit of Asia.

    April 15, 2012 at 1:37 am | Reply
  54. fdslfdsfhjkdhfdjsfhjkdsfhdjksfhdskjfvjdkvfbvjfkdlvbfjkvfbvi;avufia;vfdja;vfjiodofdsghjfbfjs;bhfuo;rthgiou;tbhiofd;sbhio;bhtios;bhgo;sbgiso;bhgswb'hiwo'bhtiwor'bhigos'wbhigo'bhieogrigrfrjegkfjgkfdlgfkldgjdljflkgjdlgfjgghenvoglrhvrelhvneruvolghwrgvolhrfvhrf

    That rocket was headed for San Diego, but ran outta fuel.

    April 15, 2012 at 1:38 am | Reply
  55. fdslfdsfhjkdhfdjsfhjkdsfhdjksfhomgthisisamazinbhdsjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjfbnvkskkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

    .

    April 15, 2012 at 1:39 am | Reply
  56. TOMG

    THEY NEED FOOD TO EAT , NOT THE MISSILE TO ATE , AMEN

    April 15, 2012 at 5:24 pm | Reply
  57. TOMG

    LIFE ARE FULL OF KARMA , KARMA ARE REAL , KARMA IS REAL , AMEN

    April 15, 2012 at 5:26 pm | Reply
  58. TOMG

    WHEN THE HUMAN FLASH BODY IS PASSING AWAY , OUR HEART ORGAN GIVEN BACK TO THE FIRE ELEMENT , AMEN . OUR LUNG ORGAN WILL GIVEN BACK TO THE AIR ELEMENT , OUR STOMACH WILL BE GIVEN BACK TO THE EARTH SOIL , AMEN .

    April 15, 2012 at 5:29 pm | Reply
  59. TOMG

    DOG WORLD IN THIS CIVILIZATION ERA OF HELL WORLD , AMEN

    April 15, 2012 at 5:32 pm | Reply
  60. TOMG

    ONLY HUMAN FORM FROM GOD THE SUN SOLAR POWERFUL AND THE MOON LUNAR POWERFUL FORM , HUMAN FORM IS NOTHINGS BUT KARMA TO CONSTANTLY KEEP ON CREATING HEAVY KARMA LIFE FORM , AMEN

    April 15, 2012 at 5:35 pm | Reply
  61. TOMG

    HUMAN FORM ARE GETTING TO SO GENIUS IN THIS ERA OF TIMING , WE THE HUMAN FORM CAN INVENTED THE MOTHER OF ALL BOMB JUST TO DESTROYING ITSELF HUMAN FORM HELL WORLD IN THIS STUPID CIVILIZATION ERA EVER , AMEN .

    April 15, 2012 at 5:37 pm | Reply
  62. TOMG

    KILLING IS NOT THE SOLUTION TO SOLVE THIS HELL FORM WORLD FOR THE PASS MORE THAN FIVE THOUSAND YEARS ALREADY , STILL AIN'T AWAKENING UP TO THE HELL WORLD YET , AMEN .

    April 15, 2012 at 5:39 pm | Reply
  63. TOMG

    THIS PLANET EARTH SOLAR SYSTEM ARE MORE THAN FIVE BILLIONS YEARS OLD , AMEN

    April 15, 2012 at 5:41 pm | Reply
  64. TOMG

    WE ALL JUST WAITING FOR THE MOTHER OF ALL EARTHQUAKE 13.O AND HIGHER TO SOLVING THIS HELL KARMA HUMAN FORM , AMEN

    April 15, 2012 at 5:42 pm | Reply
  65. TOMG

    HUMAN FORM ARE AFRAID OF TWO THINGS , THE FIRST THING IS AFRAID OF DEAD AND THE SECOND THING IS AFRAID OF SUFFERING , AMEN

    April 15, 2012 at 5:48 pm | Reply
  66. TOMG

    LIFE FORM IS FROM THE KARMA OF IT ACTION , THE THINKING , THE THOUGHT OF , AMEN

    April 15, 2012 at 5:50 pm | Reply
  67. TOMG

    KEEP ON DRILL BABY DRILL THE EARTHQUAKE ARE COMING TO ALL TOWN AROUND THIS HELL KARMA WORLD , IS LIKE KEEP ON HAVING OUR HUMAN STOMACH FROM GETTING OPERATION AFTER OPERATION AND SURGERY ON , THAT WHAT WE ALL HUMAN FORM WILL GET THE GOD PUNISHING BACK WITH THE MOTHER OF ALL EARTHQUAKE 13.O AND HIGHER AND THE MOTHER OF ALL SUENAME WILL ALSO FOLLOW , AMEN

    April 15, 2012 at 5:54 pm | Reply
  68. TOMG

    I LOVE ALBERT EINSTEIN HAVE BEEN MENTIONING ON IS ONLY THE BUDDHISTISM TO HELP THIS HELL HUMAN MIND TO HAVE MORE PEACE IN THIS ANIMAL HUMAN MIND WORLD , AMEN

    April 15, 2012 at 5:56 pm | Reply
  69. TOMG

    WHAT CAN THE HUMAN CONSUME IN ARE JUST THE FOOD AND NOT THE METAL TYPE AND METALLIC MATERIAL WORLD , AMEN

    April 15, 2012 at 5:58 pm | Reply
  70. pmcdonald

    Another reason would be that "It doesn't matter".

    North Korea is a small poxy state of 25m people only. Whatever it does will not have a lasting effect on the world. The US is still fighting the cold war. Still trying to stop the spread of communism. Listen up! Communism isn't going to spread. North Korea is irrelevant and with each passing year becomes more so. US policy needs to change to one of engagement. Bring North Korea in from the cold. It is a weak and poxy country that needs to be pitied not frightened of.

    April 15, 2012 at 9:59 pm | Reply
  71. Saber

    Countries like North Korea continue to get away with things likw this because we don't have any tough politicians who are willing to take a true stand. The last one that took a stand was Truman. Nuff Said!

    April 16, 2012 at 1:42 am | Reply
  72. krm1007

    The same reason India is getting away from it. Bully. Look around both neighborhoods.......heavily militarized, huge armed forces and tons of tension.

    April 16, 2012 at 9:38 am | Reply
  73. jay

    Is Korth Norea going to test a Nuke next??? Talk about a problem taking care of itself... LOL

    April 16, 2012 at 4:05 pm | Reply

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