North Korea launched a much-expected long-range rocket on Sunday, just weeks after conducting a fourth nuclear test and four days after People's Republic of China's highest-ranking official Wu Dawei visited Pyongyang in a well-publicized attempt to dissuade North Korea from executing its missile test. The defiant nation claimed it has successfully placed the "Kwangmyongsong" (shining star) satellite into space, North Korean anchorwoman Ri Chun Hui said on state television, adding that there would be more launches to come. North Korea continues to humiliate People's Republic of China by doing exactly what pleases Kim Jong Un who does not seem to be mesmerized like the the rest of the world by the phenomenal increase in Beijing's wealth and political influence in the last 20 years. Wu's visit's to Korea seems to have proved a vapid failure in convincing the Northeast Asian nations in particular and the world in general about China's intent as well as its ability to ensure Kim acts responsibly. China may be as worried as the other NE Asian nations and the US. It apparently does not want a nuclear-armed nation just across its borders. As part of its soft diplomacy towards Kim, it sent out its Politburo Standing Committee member Liu Yunshan to join the North Korean leader in October 2015 to watch a military parade. That failed as badly as the latest by Wu. Written by: M K Shukla (Editor)