But assisting the nuclear and missile dabblings of others pays well and allows China to thumb its nose at America.

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It was Hassan Rohani a leading hardliner close to Ayatollah Khamenei who led Iran's recent negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency over confessing to its nuclear dabblings and accepting tougher inspections by the agency.

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They, and others, would be wise to put off more general aid until it is clear that the North is taking steps to reduce the military threat it still poses to the neighbourhood from its troops and artillery dug in at the border with South Korea, from its nuclear dabblings and from its long-range missiles.

ECONOMIST: A role for Europe in Korea