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OK, that's a little easier to take than the Russian influence I've been debating on this thread, but I'm not convinced of the PRC influence either.

I'm can't completely disagree with the idsea of a chineese collar on this puppy, but I don't know if there is a leash or how effective that leash is on the dog. The PRC is in a better position than we are to grasp the mindset and unpredictability of their little neighbors. Giving my dog analogy a little more play, a great dog that barks and growls on command can be useful, but if that dog gets rabid, the last thing I want to do is let it loose on the neighbors. After the rabid beast gets put down, some one might want to have some intense conversation with ME.

The stuff I have read is that the ability of ANY nation to influence the DPRK has diminished over the last twenty years. The DPRK has been mostly a burden and an embarrassment to the hard core ideological commies, and an anachronism to the Chineese and the Russians. Most of the background on the DPRK stresses the level of isolation, even from their neighbors, the PRC. It is also difficult to believe that the PRC

Now, if the PRC has been feeding the DPRK since 1950, why are so many of the North's citizens starving? Why would the DPRK launch a missile over Japan, when the PRC has been earnestly trying to make nice with the Nipponeese for the last 20 years? It is also difficult to believe that the PRC would countenence ANY action that would lead to nationally produced and controlled Nuclear Weapons becoming politically acceptable in Japan.

Beyond the distraction factor (perhaps letting the PRC have a shot at Taiwan), what would the pay off be for the PRC? If this is being manipulated by the PRC, would'nt it then require a war, and then be pretty obvious who prodded the DPRK into a war with us when an intricate military operation by the PRC just "happens" to occur at the same time we are tied up with Iraq and the DPRK?

No, I still think this is a joker loose in the deck, and that the PRC, Russia, Japan, and ROK are trying like hell to get the DPRK to sit down to talks and see reason. If the PRC and Russia were backing up the DPRK's statements that they will only talk to us, well, I would see it then. They are backing our position of regional talks quite well, actually.

Early this a.m. C-SPAM was broadcasting an AEI forum called Dangerous Liaisons: Russia and the Axis of Evil.

Henry Sokolski had some pretty interesting things to say about what Russia has been doing to make money last 15 years. He confirmed what I believe about N. Korea, Russia's influence with N. Korea is diplomatic, (since they got Bill Clinton to start feeding them and got them their nuclear wares)

N. Korea demands to deal one on one with US, he must think we owe him, wonder where he got that idea.

Mr. Sokolski presented N. Korea's Ill as being just that ill. A loose cannon. It seems it is anyone's guess what Ill will do and how far he would go. However, he did suggest that Russia was doing little to nothing to reign him in.

I do not see China as N.Korea's base, because their fear is that millions of hungry Koreas will flood their country if things get out of hand.

Henry Sokolski, Nonproliferation Center, Executive Director,www.npec-web.org/ this web site has some very interesting studies.

Time will tell.