If you were Jong-Il, what would you test next?

How come South Korea is the only country not allowed to commit acts of gross international negligence that go unreported? I mean, crikey, they're only testing a nuclear weapon underground. Half the world's been doing the same thing for the last 50 years.

Double standards, is what I say. But that said, reading about all this international "outcry" does rather remind me of when a certain Mr Saddam tested chemical weapons on the Kurds. There was a lot of public outcry then too. Bugger all happened though.

So where do we draw the line with Kim "Stupid Hair" Jong-Il? I say now he's done his test we let things calm down and see how soon half of North Korea is radioactive.

Perhaps America could covertly sell him some additional nuke-delivering equipment. Sort of restore the business-karma.

Maybe the leaders of the USA are waiting for a suitable time to take care of North Korea...like say when they are losing an election against their wishes...or they don't get senete approval for their military budget...or maybe when North Korea theaten something important to them.

No not human rights and global safety...you dummies...you know...profit margins...walmart shareholdings...something like that.

I genuinely laughed out loud watching the news today, when they reported that South Korea may be "reconsidering" its ties to industrial and commercial ventures in the southern part of the North. Not "severing" you'll note. No terse political measure to inflict a strong statement on the capitalist irony in a communist state. On no. Just reconsideration.

I bet Jong-Il shit himself when he heard that. No, really.

So you're saying that when it's reported that my sports team is LOSING they're actually WINNING??? Man I need to get to more games... Hurrah for FOX: Like rose-tinted shades, only browner.

As North Korea isn't listed on the nuclear non-proliferation treaty they can do what they want basically. India, Pakistan and Isreal are not on that list either but I don't see you condemning India or Israel for thier nuclear weapons program which has been assisted in no small means by the UK and USA.

Then there are the French, who in violation of the non-proliferation treaty tested a new device not too long ago. No one gave two hoots then either.

I find it more than a little comical that people here are happy to lambast when things don't go exactly as they think it should. Korea has been in talks with five nations for less than two years. It took more than fifteen years for the western coalition to get back into Iraq after exhausting all diplomatic avenues, so why all the sarcasm, hooting and hollering now when things are only just getting underway?

World politics takes time. Be patient and get back on with your lives.

Ok bret. We will get back on with our lives...because this place is sooooooo important we stop everything else in consideration of it.

Everything else you said was great, but the closing statement was arrogant.

Good point, well taken. I'll leave it up there to remind myself that I forget my sarcasm gets the better of me from time to time.

My sarcasm detector was off the scale, with the exploding and the smashing and the huuuurtinggg. Hoyvem mayven.