North Korea is one of major factors for the instability in the region. The Kim Jong-il's regime is an autocratic government which survives at the expense of the North Korean public. It is sad to learn, amid occasional reports, that the people in North Korea are living in miserable condition and abject poverty. In a nutshell, it is a "thug" state, causing crises after crises solely for extorting money. China was embarrassed in several occasions due to the erratic actions of Kim. It brings into question of how much influence China has on the regime. The series of military drill certainly have political and military motives , serving to strengthen the American role in the region which seems fading in the last decade. |