North Korea

North Korea is reportedly close to testing a Taepodong-2 missile, which would be capable of reaching the US with a light payload. As usual, I hope they aren't dumb enough to enflame the current situation. My fear is that two things could follow from the test: 1) Most likely, Japan would have greater security concerns and move towards getting nukes of its own, which the US would probably allow, and supply, as a check on China. 2) There would be renewed sanctions, futher impoverishing the North Korean people, and destroying the possibility of economic prosperity undermining the authoritarian regime.

Like the Iran situation, this is a consequence of US aggression in Iraq and Bush's rhetoric of 'the axis of evil', which has rightfully made all authoritarian regimes nervous and more desperate to acquire nuclear weapons. Way to go Team America.