We should not feel threatened by North Korea’s recent actions
With all of the mayhem and anxiety surrounding the actions of Middle Eastern threats and terrorism, some people believe we may be ignoring a possibly even greater threat: North Korea. However, North Korea, no matter how intimidating it seems, doesn’t have the capacity to hinder the United States directly.
With the release of recent information, such as a supposed hydrogen bomb and American prisoner, should the United States take more action when it comes to North Korea? Based on past and current knowledge, it may be smart for us to focus our attention on more visible pressures.
Scientifically speaking, any nuclear weapons made in North Korea cannot reach far enough geographically to hurt America. Though the country brags about their expansive equipment, recent flyovers show little proof of any dramatic damage occurring any time soon.
Threats from North Korea are nothing new. The country strategically uses threats toward alleged enemies. Those who follow North Korean media notice the aggressive language used against the United States, South Korea and Japan. With all of the extortions the country uses, the number of threats that actually reach fruition are miniscule.
These types of threats help unite North Koreans when they live in impoverished conditions. When workers labor tirelessly for free using Soviet-era technology, the people have little hope to grasp besides a collective hate against the nations that appear menacing to them with the information they receive from their authoritarian, restrictive government. Sadly, little can be done to alleviate the abuse North Koreans suffer due to the country’s hermitic habits, and it’s not our place to begin fixing these problems.
Threats more likely turn into regional aggressions rather than overseas ones. If anything, the United States can strengthen its ties to South Korea, as they’d be much more likely to experience consequences from Northern claims. Especially with a stalemate border, our ironclad tie to South Korea will help in case of any increased tension, but the United States itself has no need to spend more money and effort in fighting North Korea’s illustrated menace. We must especially be cautious in the region, however, because any military efforts conducted in the area would guarantee North Korean violence.
Controversy has always surrounded North Korea. Its situation itself — a closed, secretive nation in an age of globalization — causes the rest of the world to speculate.
As humans, we fear the unknown, making any supposed action in North Korea that much more frightening. We must use logic in this situation to avoid irrational impulses and distractions from genuine dangers.
In today’s world, fear runs rampant. In world and regional news outlets alike, the headlines scream over the obvious dangers of groups like ISIS. Though we as global citizens should acknowledge information across the world, we need to trust our authorities and the agendas they set for their people, in this case, the Middle East. As a leading power in the world, the United States needs to promote peace and comradery with foreign powers to tackle the definite issues together.
