North Korea and Missile Concerns: Nations are Not All Identical

North Korea's launched another missile. It worked, but not perfectly. The North Korean rocket did successfully separate and start its second stage ("staging," it's called). That's doing pretty well, even if the vehicle didn't complete its flight as planned. (Space Daily)

A discussion thread today included some rather familiar attitudes:

• "eh, everyone can shout and posture but at the end of the day they are still a sovereign nation and can do what they want. ..."
• "Other countries launch missles [!] why not NK also?..."
• "I bet Japan isn't happy right now. They're probably still edgy about missiles since the nuclear bombs our terrorizing government dropped in World War II."
• "The missile's third stage failed and the satellite fell into the ocean. They're still a long way from being a threat. That said, who are we to dictate who can and who can't launch missiles? China is a much greater threat yet they're our number one trading partner."
  (BlogCatalog Discussion thread)

There are some good points there: North Korea is a sovereign nation. Just like America, Guinea-Bissau, India, and Burkina Faso.

I think that one reason the United Nations Security Council is meeting, and why Japan (among other nations) is concerned, is that not all nations are exactly alike.

Related post:

• "North Korea Launches Missile; U.N. Security Council to Meet: Here We Go Again"
  (April 5, 2009)
  • Includes list of other related posts

News and views:

• "Missile defence work needed, North Korea must change"
  Reuters (April 5, 3009)
• "Obama's plan: Get rid of all nukes "
  nzherald.com.nz (April 5, 2009)
• "U.N. council rushes to respond to North Korea launch"
  Reuters (April 5, 3009)
• "Rocket programme to cost NKorea 500 mln dlrs: analyst"
  Space Daily (April 5, 2009)
• "NKorea rocket launch partial success: US expert"
  Space Daily (April 5, 2009)
• "US wants jailed journalists in NKorea [!] freed soon"
  The Associated Press (April 5, 2009)
• "North Korea: pathetic, but still dangerous"
  telegraph.co.uk (April 5, 2009)