Battleland

Dud Doesn’t Dent Danger

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That’s the word from Austin Ramzy in Beijing on Time’s Global Spin blog:

…the ballistic bust does not mean that North Korean threat has lessened significantly. The isolated authoritarian state still possesses significant conventional artillery with which it could attack Seoul, just 55 km south of the demilitarized zone that separates North and South Korea. “I don’t think we should be taking great sigh of relief that the test failed,” says Rory Medcalf, director of the Sydney-based Lowy Institute’s international-security program. “I don’t think the fundamental issue is about North Korea’s ability to reach the U.S. From a regional perspective the fact is that North Korea can wreak havoc on South Korea and do a lot harm to Japan. There the insecurity is very much alive.”