On Tuesday, North Korea announced its plans to reopen its nuclear reactor in Yongbyong. The reactor was previously shutdown as part of a nuclear disarmament deal with the United States. North Korean leader, Kim Jung-un, stated that the reactor would help make nuclear fuel to increase their nuclear weapon stockpile. Announcements from North Korean Department of atomic energy stated that it planned to use a uranium-enrichment plant on the site for its weapons program, giving them two ways to produce nuclear fuel as this process also produces plutonium. Allowing North Korea to gain any more nuclear weapons, especially which such a unpredictable leader, could pose threatening to the world.
To make matters worse, Kim Jung-un made a series of threats to attack South Korea and the United States with missiles. Secretary of State John Kerry believes that these threats are an attempt to get a reaction out of the United States. A senior American official was quoted, “they’re testing the proposition that we’ll choose peace and quiet, and put it on our MasterCard.” It is speculated that Kim Jung-un is practicing brinksmanship, in which he brings his enemies to the brink of nuclear war in order to come to a conclusion. Secretary of State Kerry certainly believes this; he is calling North Korea’s bluff. However, some experts are raising the question: “What if they aren’t bluffing?” A slight miscalculation can cause detrimental consequences for the U.S.
These outrageous statements and threats from North Korea are causing unrest throughout the world, including China who has denounced their tactics. The President of China was,”Frustrated with Mr. Kim’s belligerence.” China has backed up South Korea and has been cooperative with them since the sanctions began. The United States is still trying to get Russia to use their influence to settle North Korea down.
Just this week, North Korea shut down their heavily guarded borders to an industrial park they have run with South Korea for 8 years. This exemplifies the tension between the North and South . These tensions are causing a hostile environment that could potentially lead to war.
North Korea isn’t all talk; they have recently conducted multiple nuclear tests. Conducting these tests only exacerbated the tensions between the North and South. The United States believed that they were only using plutonium fission fuel; however, it is now speculated that the third nuclear test was conducted with a uranium bomb, exponentially more powerful than a plutonium bomb.
Tensions in the Peninsula have risen dramatically since last month because North Korea insists on showing the world its nuclear power. A multitude of nuclear tests and threats to attack the U.S. and South Korea have made the world uneasy about the near future. Kim Jung-un has little experience as a leader, which makes his intentions unpredictable. Although the United States does not believe he will actually use his nuclear stockpile, they are taking extreme precautions to calm the tension in Eastern Asia.
I agree with Chris. A lot of experts are saying Kim Jong-Un is trying to manufacture an international conflict with the American “enemy” so people will ignore all of the troubles at home. Who would honestly want to live in North Korea if they had the choice between anywhere else.
This is definitely intimidating, but I guess I don’t actually see them using their nukes or if they do use their nukes then we’ll all die so no one will be alive to be sad.
Is North Korea insisting on showing the would its nuclear power, or is this kind of testing, albeit uncomfortably, kinda sorta an international norm… I mean, doesn’t the US conduct nuclear testing? Is the media just more vocal about NK? What North Korea is doing is extreme and dangerous, but, I mean, it’s North Korea. Duh. Are we really sure the United States should be pressuring Russia? (BTW, Russia? We typical align militarily with them…) I agree with your claim, “allowing North Korea to gain any more nuclear weapons, especially which such a unpredictable leader, could pose threatening to the world.” However, why is the US military still functioning with this oppressive savior-type mentality when so many Americans are unhappy about pressing domestic issues?
Usually when North Korea starts making these threats it is because they want food or other aid, but this time it feels a little different. Because of the recent regime change, Kim Jong-Un might be trying to make his government seem more legitimate to his people by playing up this conflict in order to keep power, but that is still a scary situation especially because they are a nuclear county.
It is definitely nerve racking that North Korea may have nuclear weapons heading for the United States and yet our government is “calling their bluff.” Like so many other things the we have become increasingly unproductive at, dealing with countries like North Korea by giving into their threats has only led the problem to get bigger. I am not so sure what the solution is but I believe we have to take real action to end the North Korea problem once and for all.