The death of North Korea’s former leader Kim Jong Il did not mark the end of the country’s political turmoil.
   On April 13, North Korea fired a rocket over the Yellow Sea. Less than two minutes after the missile launch, the rocket exploded in mid air. Debris landed off the coast of South Korea.
   The United States and many other nations claimed that this rocket launch was in direct violation of bans against nuclear and missile activity. According to North Korean officials, the launch was made in order to send an observation satellite into orbit, that was timed to celebrate the 100^th anniversary of North Korea’s founder, Kim Il Sung.
   Junior Jordan Neff does not believe that North Korea was sending an observation satellite into space. Neff believes that “North Korea was probably testing weapons.”
   The United States immediately suspended a deal created in February that provided North Korea with food aid in return for the adjournment of North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.
   North Korea claimed that the United States’ suspension of this program was not justified, and that the United States is trying to prevent North Korea from expanding their space program.
   Senior Andrew Jensen believes that “the United States had the right to suspend the pact.” Jensen also went on to criticize the missile launch because “if North Korea has the ability to send a rocket into space then they should also have the ability to feed their own people.”    
   On April 18, North Korea withdrew from the deal made in February and now claims to have the right to take retaliatory measures against the US.
   Junior Keanan Wilson does not think that North Korea “will retaliate because the United States’ military is the strongest in the world.”