Paranoid and Pointless Sabre Rattling

I once taught an emotionally disturbed student that didn't know his limits. He aggressively threatened any student that crossed his path--no matter who it was. One day, he tried to start a fight with a new student. A huge, new student. The boy absolutely dwarfed the antagonist, in fact. Before I could intervene, the larger boy had grabbed the bottom of the emotionally disturbed boys jacket and pulled it over his head. Then he forced the crazed child to the ground, laughing the entire time.

After I broke them up, the emotionally disturbed student still tried to fight the laughing giant.

Why do I suddenly have Deja Vu?

Here's a sample of the latest laugher from Kim Jong ll:

North Korea angrily mocked international criticism of its multiple missile tests, threatening on Thursday to fire off more rockets.

In the face of nearly unanimous world condemnation of the seven missile tests on Wednesday, Pyongyang's foreign minister released a blustery statement declaring that it had the right to develop and test its weapons — and vowing unspecified retaliation against anyone who tries to stop it.

"Our military will continue with missile launch drills in the future as part of efforts to strengthen self-defense deterrent," said the statement, carried in state-run media. "If anyone intends to dispute or add pressure about this, we will have to take stronger physical actions in other forms."

The statement did not specify what actions North Korea would take.

The aggressive stance from Pyongyang coincided with intense diplomatic activity in world capitals to formulate a response to the tests. Washington and its allies — particularly Japan — clamored for sanctions against the North, but struggled against resistance by China and Russia.

North Korea set off an international furor on Wednesday when it tested seven missiles, all of which landed into the Sea of Japan without causing any damage. The blasts apparently included a long-range Taepodong-2 that broke up less than a minute after takeoff and splashed into the sea.

The trouble is that North Korea's latest bluster follows the righteous world condemnation it received for its illicit missle test. Mr. Jong ll's unhinged paranoia about an imminent US invasion drives him to provoke his regional neighbors into mayhem. He may soon find that the US is the least of his worries. I seriously doubt that a resurgent China with interests in economic triumph will tolerate a nuclear failed totalitarian state on its border. Never mind what Japan might do if NK continues hurling ballistic missles into the Sea of Japan.

Mr. ll may prove the Kinks right yet: paranoia will destroy ya!