US allies and rivals in Asia gauge fallout from war in the Middle East

SEOUL – As war spreads across the Middle East, U.S. rivals and allies in Asia are preparing for the consequences, which include possible economic shock and long-term security threats. Here’s a look at how the fighting in the Middle East is impacting the Koreas, Japan and China. North Korea At a major political conference last month, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un insisted the country’s decades-long pursuit of nuclear weapons was the “correct” choice, despite crippling isolation and scarce resources. The U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran will only reinforce that belief. North Korea’s leadership likely watched uneasily as the strikes killed…