The proposal would limit cooperation to providing each other's militaries with essential items like food, water and fuel, and to sharing support services like transportation and medical care.
Their reason: While North Korea and Pakistan have little else in common, they both have strong militaries with a well-honed sensibility about survival.
GCHQ blames China and Russia for the vast majority of cyber-attacks against the UK and is now working with the NSA to provide the British and US militaries with a cyberwarfare capability.
A confidential seven-page paper leaked to the German news weekly Der Spiegel proposed joint exercises and training between Nato and the three countries, increasing the "interoperability" of their militaries with Nato, and their participation in Nato "smart defence" operations.
Many details have yet to be worked out, and the suggestion that Central American militaries with poor human rights records could expand their duties into law enforcement stirred debate.
That is why all responsible nations must embrace the role that militaries with a clear mandate can play to keep the peace.
