Well, it is certainly appropriate that North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket commemorating the 100th birthday of its founder, Kim Il Sung, stayed aloft for almost a minute.
Thursday's debacle on the west coast of North Korea came about as the pathetic failing country once again flew in the face of international protests by staging the launch. The North claimed the rocket would carry a satellite into orbit.
Fortunately, the only orbit the satellite achieved was a quick once-around the launch pad, then a slam-dunk into Korea Bay in the Yellow Sea.
The North had made a great deal of the launch, inviting foreign journalists in to see their version of Mission Control and observe the launch. Those visiting reporters apparently were lucky to not have a front-row seat to the return from "space" of the rocket.
As we noted in the March 29 editorial, the Kim family is now in its third generation of depriving and starving the poor people who call North Korea home. The Kim family motto is, apparently, "Six Decades of Mindless Leadership and Saber Rattling."
Western nations (chiefly, the United States) had seemingly reached an agreement with North Korea earlier this year to suspend its nuclear program in exchange for food. Then came the announcement of the pending launch and relations chilled again.
At some point it can only be hoped that the North's new despot, Kim Jong-Un (grandson of the above-mentioned founder), will turn his country's attention and efforts to feeding his people.
* Editorials reflect the opinion of the publisher.
