31.   In recent years, Washington has negotiated with Pyongyang, obtaining a suspension of its missile tests in exchange for lifting certain sanctions.

32.   Indeed, its missile test two years ago is what prompted America to pursue the missile defenses that so offend China and Russia.

33.   In the days preceding the first missile defense test in a year, Pentagon officials played down its significance.

34.   It is now believed that a new missile test by North Korea would go a long way toward changing that.

35.   It should be to advise North Korea, first, to take the goodies on offer and forget about any more missile tests.

36.   It is considered possible that North Korea tried to launch a satellite as part of a missile test but that the satellite malfunctioned.

37.   Just this week, China announced it will conduct missile tests off its coast near Taiwan.

38.   Likewise, Japan is still smarting from missile tests across its bows and is reluctant to be as generous as Pyongyang wants.

39.   Missile tests near the ports of Kaohsiung and Keelung earlier this month also ended without incident.

40.   Missile tests ought not to be conducted in the midst of military crises.