North Korea's Missile Test - (June 27, 2006)

Earlier this month, North Korea announced plans for the test launch of a long range ballistic missile, the Taepodong-2. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stated that launching such a missile would be a "provocative act" and warned North Korea to refrain from doing so. South Korea, Japan, Russia, and China have all expressed concern, as well. The Administration has had no shortage of advice about how to react to the situation: from a call by former Clinton Administration officials to launch a preemptive attack and destroy the missile at on the launching pad, to counsel from former Bush Administration officials to take a cautious approach and rely on diplomacy; from suggestions to talk to Pyongyang, not to talk to Pyongyang, and to talk to China. This Thursday, you will have the opportunity to weigh in with your opinion, as we consider North Korea's pending missile test as the topic for our IIF discussion. Curt Coulombe, whom many of you may know from the Southern Center, will serve as our moderator.

As background, here are a number of articles on the subject, mostly editorials and op/ed pieces, that have appeared in numerous publications and web sites over the past couple of weeks:
Concerns Mount over North Korea's Ballistic Missile Testing
Going Ballistic
Grounding Kim
North Korea Flexes Its Muscles
N. Korea's missile ploy
North Korea's Incredibly Bad Idea
North Korea's Threat: Missile test would put world on high alert
North Korea Disavows Its Moratorium on Testing of Long-Range Missiles
Right Where He Wants Us
Missile Defense Test
Shoot It Down
Tested by North Korea
To deal with North Korea, talk with China
North Korea's missile
North Korea: dumb and dumber
If Necessary, Strike and Destroy
No, Don't Blow It Up
U.S. Rejects Suggestion to Strike N. Korea Before It Fires Missile
North Korea and the 'destabilizing' missile defense
North Korean Diplomatic Strategy Mirrors Iran's
Don't Shoot. We're Not Ready
Leaders of Senate Panel Urge U.S. Talks With North Korea
It's Time To Talk to Pyongyang
China Urges NKorea Not to Test Missile
We hope you will join us at Villa for a lively discussion of a subject that should be of major concern to all Americans.