Say this much for North Korea's quirky leader, Kim Jong Il: he knows how to get the world's attention. Early last week, a powerful new missile lifted off from a secret base on North Korea's eastern coast and streaked toward Japan. Dumping its first stage off the western coast of Japan, the rocket sped high over the country and plunked down into the Pacific Ocean. But it packed a political wallop that resounded in capitals from Tokyo to Washington. The message: North Korea may be broke and short of food, but the Stalinist state has a dangerous new toy.
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