The whole world was watching as North Korea launched their missile last Friday. Despite several warnings of the possible repercussions from the International Community, Pyongyang decided to go ahead with the launch.

After a minute of flight, the missile broke into pieces, making it yet another failure in North Korea’s long record of rocket launches. In the past, Pyongyang has been quick to release a joyous account of the test, testifying to its success. But this time at the reins of Kim Jong-un, North Korea has released a statement confirming the launch had been unsuccessful. The State claims the purpose was to drive a satellite into orbit, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il-sung, North Korea’s first national leader.

“The Earth observation satellite failed to enter its preset orbit. Scientists, technicians and experts are now looking into the cause of the failure,” state television said.

As the statement was released, tens of thousands of people celebrated the unveiling of two new statues of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jon-il in Central Pyongyang. North Korea has also announced that Kim Jong-un is a new member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, the nation’s top decision-making body.

The new title is a valid recognition of Kim Jon-un’s leadership. Kim Jon-un follows in the footsteps of his ancestors: Kim Il-sung is known as the “Eternal President of the Republic” and Kim Jon-il was given the title of “eternal general secretary” of the Worker’s Party.

Even though North Korea said that is was merely a satellite launch, most speculated that it was a missile test.

The UN Security Council condemned the launch for being a violation of two Security Council resolutions. Susan Rice, the United State’s UN ambassador, added: “Every time they go down a path such as this, their isolation intensifies, the needs of their people increase and they become more and more out of the bounds of the international community. That will be the case if they do so.”

North Korea’s neighbors, Japan and South Korea were quick to react to the launch and the White House released a statement regarding the situation.

“Despite the failure of its attempted missile launch, North Korea’s provocative action threatens regional security, violates international law and contravenes its own recent commitments.” Moreover, “North Korea is only further isolating itself by engaging in provocative acts, and is wasting its money on weapons and propaganda displays while the North Korean people go hungry.” said White House spokesman Jay Carney.

All we can do is wait and hope that North Korea chooses its people’s welfare over weapons.

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After the death of North Korean dictator Kim Jung-Il, many nations in the world zero in on the move of the next leader, young Kim Jung-Eun. Some expect he might go for an open diplomacy since the young leader spent his adolescent in Switzerland, and also taking into account his age.

Countless assumptions and speculative research for North Korea’s upcoming policies and diplomatic tactics are currently up in the air in an attempt to predict how the young dictator will step into his father’s footsteps. From the most recent reports, he might be planning something drastic to position himself as a powerful young man.

According to Yonhap News Agency Korea, North Korea is in the midst of developing unmanned attack aircrafts using U.S. target drones purchased from the Middle East, a military source in Seoul said Sunday, indicating that the aircrafts will likely target the South. ”North Korea recently bought several U.S. MQM-107D Streakers from a Middle Eastern nation that appears to be Syria, and is developing unmanned attack aircraft based on them,” the source said on condition of anonymity.

The jet-powered Streakers can fly at up to 925 km/h with a fuselage 5.5 meters long and a wingspan of three meters. They are used by Egypt, Iran and Jordan, as well as Sweden, Turkey, Australia, and Taiwan. South Korea has also used them to test anti-aircraft missiles and conduct missile target training.

North Korea has conducted numerous tests on high-speed target drones mounted with high explosives, but has yet to develop a new weapon, said the source to Yonhap. If it succeeds in developing the attack aircraft, the North is likely to deploy them near the tense maritime border with the South on the Yellow Sea.

The maritime border, also known as Yun-Pyung Island, was the scene of North Korea’s provocation which left four South Koreans dead in  November, 2010. At the moment, the reason for developing unmanned attack aircraft remains unknown, yet it gives a glimpse of the young dictator’s priorities; He cares more about nourishing new weapons than his people who suffer from starvation.

Some nations, include South Korea, have been getting their hopes up in respect to the new era of Kim Jung-Eun. Many were hopeful that he might choose a different path for the future of North Korea, one that would be a little more amiable towards South Korea and other liberal nations. In light of this, the news about attack aircraft cannot be any more disappointing and shocking.

At least finally the North’s mysterious foreign policy is starting to unveil. Time will tell if the North Korean government will remain on its isolated, hostile path or if bigger ambitions have emerged following Kim Jung-Eun’s inauguration which could mean a greater threat to the surrounding world.

No matter what, the young dictator needs to realize that a nation unable to care for its population is essentially powerless. True power comes from the people’s strength; not from the cold weapon.

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