In recent weeks, the U.S. and North Korean governments have been engaged in a heated exchange prompted by North Korea\u2019s continued development and testing of nuclear warheads.<\/p>\n
On Sunday, Sept. 3, nine days before the beginning of the U.N.\u2019s 72nd session, seismic readings of 6.3 in the Pacific Ocean indicated that North Korea\u2019s most recent nuclear weapons test was bigger than any other that has been conductedin North Korea, according to the BBC. North Korean state media called it a \u201cperfect success\u201d and a \u201cvery meaningful step in completing the national nuclear weapons programme.\u201d<\/p>\n
As North Korea has taken to the testing grounds, President Trump has taken to Twitter, expressing that the U.S. is prepared to use \u201cdevastating\u201d military action if necessary, according to CNN.<\/p>\n
Last Monday, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho claimed U.S. President Trump had \u201cdeclared war\u201d on his country in response to his inflammatory tweets. The same day, the White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders responded, stating that the suggestion was \u201cabsurd.\u201d<\/p>\n
This war of words between North Korea and the U.N. could be pushing the region closer to the brink of an accidental conflict, but both countries are still determined to avoid conflict at all costs, according to CNN.<\/p>\n
\u201cNorth Korea is being quite careful so that there is no accidental clash,\u201d South Korean Liberty Korea Party lawmaker Lee Cheol-woo said.<\/p>\n
In many ways this is much more a stalemate between the two countries as nuclear powers, neither ready to take the step towards war yet neither willing to step down, according to Fox News.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe North Koreans assume that the threats will be enough to restrain United States action but the United States might be thinking the same thing,\u201d the Stratfor vice president of strategic analysis told CNN. \u201cSo you end up in a situation where a provocation from one side is seen by the other as an actual move towards war.\u201d<\/p>\n
Junior Hallie Hite said that it\u2019s been discouraging to watch the U.S. respond to North Korea as they have.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the age of social media and global community, every piece of communication by a country\u2019s leaders is crucial,\u201d Hite said. \u201cWhile North Korea is communicating with weapons tests, the president of the United States is communicating via Twitter and empty threats. This signifies a morose outlook for our country, if the situation escalates to a level where communication keeps us from the brink of war.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to Kevin Klein, professor of history and endowed chair of the Department of History and Political Science, North Korea\u2019s verbal aggression is nothing new, but their nuclear weaponry and the temperaments of these newly-interacting world leaders is a novel element in the countries\u2019 relations.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere have been worse moments than the moment we are at right now,\u201d Klein said. \u201cBut we have really different dynamics because of the leadership and because of the culmination of their nuclear program.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Klein noted the uniqueness and unpredictability of the personalities interacting, he expressed that heightened aggression between the U.S. and North Korea was an inevitable part of North Korea\u2019s long-term weapons development plan.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo matter who this current president was, if it was Hillary, Hillary would be facing nuclear-armed, belligerent North Korea,\u201d Klein said. \u201cHow would she respond? She might respond differently \u2013\u2013 I would think that she would respond differently \u2013\u2013 but they would be facing the same problem. This problem precedes the current administration, but it is culminating \u2026 You always inherit Korea. Since 1953, you inherit Korea.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to Klein, whether or not nuclear war is likely in the near future, North Korea\u2019s weaponization is a cause for concern.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are the necessary ingredients for (war) to happen, so people are properly alerted,\u201d Klein said. \u201cIt is absolutely appropriate to have this level of concern. There are only five recognized hydrogen bomb countries in the world. So this is a pretty elite club this little hermit kingdom has now entered.\u201d<\/p>\n
Written by Justin Duyao and Delilah Pope<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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