No Hugs from North Korea

Notwithstanding its newly admitted nuclear arms, North Korea seems to be reluctant to dispense any hugs to its friends (I am, of course, making reference to the ridiculous bumper stickers from the 1980s which stated that "You can't hug your child with nuclear arms".).

North Korea is thumbing its nose at the diplomatic process and basically daring us -- the United States -- to do something about it. This is a difficult situation for the United States because actions undertaken in this region are still fraught with the tensions that existed worldwide during the Cold War. This is due to North Korea's western neighbor, China, which still is solicitous of North Korea, much like an older brother still concerns himself with the welfare of an out-of-control younger brother. In other words, anything we do will have to be weighed against probable Chinese reaction. The North Koreans know this and, truth be told, probably rely on the Chinese reaction more to deter the US than on its atomic weapons. Nevertheless, a morally bankrupt, unpredictable North Korea cannot be allowed to have nukes. If there is one regime in the world that I would pick to use a nuclear weapon unexpectedly, it would be the DPRK.

I do not pretend to have a solution to this issue. However, I will keep reading on the subject and post on it from time to time.

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