Testing the waters

North Korea | North Korea’s missiles may have fallen into the Sea of Japan, but they caused a diplomatic explosion | Priya Abraham

North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il

While Americans were enjoying fireworks on the Fourth of July, North Korea had its own ideas about what to explode. The reclusive Communist state decided to test seven missiles, including one intercontinental ballistic missile that could reach Alaska. Two days later, the North Koreans looked like they were preparing to launch more.

Though the Taepodong 2 failed 42 seconds after launching, dropping into the Sea of Japan, criticism of the provocative display soared. North Koreans have "defied the international community," said National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley. Usually conciliatory South Korea said the North should bear "full responsibility" for the launches and demanded that Pyongyang return to six-party talks on nuclear disarmament. Japan went beyond words to action, imposing economic sanctions on North Korea.