Rocket man
Kim Jong Il is a threat to stability in Asia. He should be resisted—especially by China
THERE is no law against testing missiles, even far-flying ones intended to rattle nerves around the globe. Yet North Korea's attempted firework display, launching a Taepodong rocket (which fizzled) and half a dozen others (which worked) was calculated to blast a hole in the diplomatic effort by America, South Korea, Japan, China and Russia to get Kim Jong Il's regime to give up its nuclear bomb-building. The bigger worry is that this week's pyrotechnics will incinerate wider efforts to stabilise a region full of dangerous rivalries.
This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline "Rocket man"
From the July 8th 2006 edition
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