North Korea & Appeasement

This past Independence Day, North Korea shocked the world by launching at least six missiles, including a long-range Taepodong. In the Fall of 2002, North Korea both revealed that they had broken the 1994 agreement to not development weaponry, and nevertheless promised a moratorium on missile testing. I guess one deception begets another.
The occurrence of these military exercises on the 4th of July was a clear attempt to gain one-on-one dialogue with the USA. President Bush, holding a press conference in Chicago yesterday, was asked about the developments in North Korea. One reporter suggested that Bush’s foreign policy was incongruous:
REPORTER: Mr. President, a lot of people here in Chicago tell us that they see an incongruity in your foreign policy. We’re involved in a shooting war in Iraq; yet we have a leader in North Korea who has announced his affection for nuclear weapons and no hesitation to use them against the United States. Is your policy consistent between the way you have dealt with Iraq and the way you have dealt with North Korea? And if so, are we headed toward a military action in North Korea? And if so, can this nation sustain military action on three fronts — Iraq, Afghanistan and North Korea?
This reporter failed to realize that over 15 UN Resolutions were passed regarding Iraq prior to the war starting in 2003. The Iraq conflict was in the making for 12 years, as Iraq repeatedly failed to live up to international expectations. We did not rush to war then, and a diplomatic solution is being carefully pursued now as well. (The President’s reply was outstanding and thorough.)
Here is an excellent comparison of North Korea’s leader, and his ability to keep his word, to pre-WW II Hitler. We need to observe the lessons of the past lest history repeat itself.