Best bet is to largely ignore North Korea

The decision by North Korea's twisted leadership to fire off a series of Scud missiles borders between insanity and audacity. Apparently timed to coincide with the Independence Day celebrations in the United States, the missile launches represent the most brazen act yet by the demented military minds that control the isolated neo-Stalinist regime.

In the past six months, Pyongyang has consistently racheted up tensions by launching a ballistic missile; walking out, yet again, from nuclear talks; and imposing a maritime exclusion zone.

The leadership there is trying to portray a message of unified strength but their glorious leader, Kim Jong-il, is clearly suffering a serious illness.

The messages coming from Pyongyang have become increasingly bellicose, raising alarm levels and troop readiness along the demilitarised zone.

The international community has tried a number of options in dealing with the ever-more paranoid demands of the North. Food programmes have been suspended, leaving the North's civilian population on meagre rations as they labour to produce all that Kim desires.

Nuclear monitoring teams have tried through talks to maintain surveillance over the north's nuclear facilities, but the result has been eviction notices and a flurry of patriotic propaganda about how the inspired leadership saw off a threat from the imperialist powers.

The bottom line is that North Korea remains a morally and politically bankrupt regime that cares little for its own population, as long as the delusions of Stalinist grandeur are maintained as pristinely as the facades of the great squares of Pyongyang.

Yes, North Korea's actions are provocative, but they must be ignored - just as one tries to ignore a fly over dinner. Close surveillance must be maintained to warn of any future threats while all foreign aid must be cut off, leaving the North to implode on rations of propaganda and Stalinist dogma.