This time things would be different. North Korea had badly miscalculated in firing its missiles, as some claimed in the immediate aftermath of the launch. Kim Jong Il’s belligerence would be met by a tough, united international response. But has it miscalculated? The one nation with enormous economic leverage on the North, China, refuses to employ it and Japan, a strong U.S. ally, has watched its proposed UN resolution get emasculated. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, who’s in Beijing, said today that “China is working very hard and taking its responsibility very, very seriously in trying to get the six-party process going again.” The reality is China hasn’t been “taking its responsibility very, very seriously” – far from it. Until they’re serious, Pyongyang will likely continue its provocations.

Missile Launch Pad, North Korea

(Courtesy of Globalsecurity.org)