For Americans, the two most appreciated news items about North Korea’s recent launch of seven missiles was (1) that the biggest, costliest and most threatening of the devices destroyed itself after only about 35 seconds in the air and (2) that the United States was aware of the “testing” and would have shot down the major missile had it survived much longer.

The malfunction of the missiles has to be an embarrassment and an economic setback of major proportions for Kim Jong Il and his cronies. We are looking at a country where the economic situation is horrible and many do not have enough to eat. Diverting funding from other needs to create a “big stick” to shake at the world is typical of the kind of dictatorship involved. How many more North Koreans will starve because of such showboating?

It’s good news that U.S. officials say they were ready to down the biggest missile had it approached the threat stage, and it is hoped our officials stand their ground and make it clear that alert and complete “defense” will remain our policy.

Most disappointing about all this is how China and Japan, which are far closer to North Korea than the United States, are so slow to react and make it clear they will take stern measures if this sword-rattling continues. Russia, too, has fallen back into an all-too-typical lack of support. Again, the North Korean economy is so shaky that sensible but strong sanctions can make a big difference. Guns or butter? Need we point out that it was the economic climate rather than the armaments race that brought the Soviet Union to its knees?

John Bolton, our ambassador to the United Nations, is noted for his direct approach to matters of state. He has declared, with White House approval for sure, that the U.N. needs to send a “strong and unanimous signal” that these missile tests are unacceptable and that future ones will draw even stronger reaction. But from whom besides the U.S.?

Sadly, about the best Bolton could say after a meeting on the subject was that “no member defended what the North Koreans have done.” How faint is that praise? Fortunately, we get support from Great Britain.

We can hope that any other missiles being “tested” by the posturing North Koreans destroy themselves, hopefully on the launching pads, and that the United States continues to emphasize it will shoot down anything dangerous to our nation and its people. North Korea has made its bullying move to get attention and achieve highly questionable goals. It should understand that such activity will not be tolerated and that there must be multilateral talks about what lies ahead.

Acceptance of blackmail is not an option.