In February, North Korea tested nuclear weapons of an unknown origin underground, causing an international stir. Unhappy, the U.S. and the U.N. put stricter sanctions on the country, hoping to make the point that it was unacceptable what they were doing by participating in such developments.
This past month, South Korea and the U.S. were involved in their yearly exercises with B52 bomber planes. North Korea took the exercises as a threatening gesture and started to mobilize their military power and nuclear power, along with threats directed at the U.S. and its bases located throughout the Pacific region. In response, the U.S. has increased its presence with the threats coming from North Korea.
It’s not that uncommon that these fighting words are being spouted out of North Korea’s mouth— a fine history of threatening rhetoric in the past decade or so has existed, even though the threats have often been empty.
But these threats are not always empty. North Korea gives plenty of warning about its impending actions, such as the artillery attack on a South Korean island in 2010. The attack was not unexpected, but North Korea had presented a very clear warning, therefore an almost true threat to the safety of the U.S. and its allies.
The question is: What is North Korea capable of doing if weapons are deployed?
North Korea has moved its missiles to the east coast, where the country has a better vantage point of hitting American bases, territories, islands or the mainland with their missiles. The nuclear capabilities of the country have been under wraps, its abilities unknown by the rest of the world, making that a threat in itself: the fear of the unknown.
Can North Korea’s weapons reach the U.S.? That’s a tough question to answer based on what is and isn’t known by experts within the field. But to be on the safe side, the U.S. has responded by increasing its defense systems where necessary. While a history of all talk and little action does exist from North Korea, the school of thought from Americans seems to be that North Korea won’t attempt to make a military strike against the U.S. because of what power the country has. China would keep the country in check or whatever else Americans say to help them sleep at night.
The U.S. has been attacked before by other powers, powers that don’t have the same strength as the U.S.
The government had enough information to be able to predict 9/11, but was too cocky thinking someone wouldn’t strike the U.S. on its own grounds. An attack from North Korea can happen and can be prevented, as long as the threats are taken seriously and not brushed under the rug.
China’s getting fed up with what North Korea is doing. It’s like watching a younger kid constantly pestering a older sibling. Soon enough, the older sibling (China) is going to get frustrated with the little kid (North Korea) and snap. The result will be deadly.
Acting as a clear and present danger, the threats from North Korea should not be taken lightly. While its track record might be shaky as best, the threats are there.
North Korea isn’t playing around, as opposed to the U.S. There isn’t much for the average American citizen to do in a situation like this besides wait and think about what it would mean to be threatened in such a manner. The U.S. isn’t as untouchable as we think it is.
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