Mr Obama’s promises to extend the hand of friendship to unpleasant nations have been slapped down by dictators.

Pyongyang is clearly capable of attacking the South for no reason at all as in response to international censure and restrictions.

North Korea has literally shot itself to new depths of incivility.

A North Korean torpedo was responsible for the death of 46 sailors who perished despite its denial.

An explosion buckled the ship and sent it to the bottom as unexpectedly as a North Korean bomber blew up a South Korean airliner near Thailand.

War is unthinkable on the Korean peninsula. So too, however, are murderous and unprovoked attacks.