Perhaps I had it right with a post on the same topic here earlier:

North Korea, as with Iran, is controlled by those who have little regard for the welfare of the population. In North Korea the people exist as a resource for the aspirations of Kim Jong-Il and nothing more. Annihilation of the people of North Korea is not the answer.

The UN sanctions are a necessary prerequisite for further action. Military action is a continuation of diplomacy to reach political decisions.

North Korea is still to some degree China’s proxy. Although things have changed China is still the key to North Korea. Military action in North Korea may bring a sad story to an end but the price would probably, almost certainly, be horrific.

These missile tests are yet another tactic of brinksmanship than Kim Jong-Il loves to play. Whether it is a punk craving attention or tactics to gain some political advantage (perhaps both), the results still come down to more of what has happened in the past.

I believe that the United States government is playing this game as best as it can be played.

A news article that may provide support for this argument:

omegaram on July 5, 2006 at 9:58 PM