Does North Korea Pose A Threat?  Defense Secretary Robert Gates
warned that North Korea will in the coming years pose a threat
to the security of the United States. “With the North Koreans
continuing development of nuclear weapons and their development
of intercontinental ballistic missiles, North Korea is becoming
a direct threat to the United States, and we have to take that
into account.” He went on to note there is “urgency” in
addressing this issue. A major concern for Gates is the growing
feeling among many in South Korea with “provocation and
harassment from the North.” His fear is another effort by North
Korea to display its might by attacking South Korean facilities
might be the spark which leads to more widespread hostilities
between the two nations. Those who study North Korean politics
are still confused as to whether recent incidents are merely an
attempt to build up the reputation of Kim Song-un, son of the
head of North Korea or is it an attempt to force negotiations
with the United States.  Re