Chloe Villa-Abrille | Tensions Rise as North Korea Makes Advances in Military Power

As of Monday, North Korea has made threatening strides concerning military power, with the proclaimed additions of multiple war heads, possible continuations on testing of ICBM’s or Intercontinental ballistic missile, and proclaiming a successfully tested hydrogen bomb, one that is to be hundreds of times more powerful than the one used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In response to this, China, Russia, the United States, and South Korea have taken precautions to avoid disaster and war with North Korea. South Korea performed live-fire drills incase of emergency, while opening up 4 THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) along with China to combat incoming missiles. Further more, recent acts from North Korea have put China in an uncomfortable position being North Korea’s ally, and North Koreas actions are, “against the will of the international community and will meet with China's disapproval.” If Korea continues to test China, it could result in difficulties or a cease in trade, taking a toll on North Korea’s economy with 85% of imports coming from China. Russia is considering to strengthen their military with missiles in the Pacific, while the US is opening up communications with other countries concerning North Koreas strides, while developing combatants against possible war. South Korea recently practiced mock trails for strikes on North Korea’s Nuclear test site with F-15K fighter jets. North Korea has certainly caused a large stir and a planted a seed of anxiety in many powerful countries out of fear their nuclear testing could be the start of another world war, but with many of these countries communicating and the UN making moves to dissolve this incident, they’re might be hope for a peaceful end to be brought about.

  Written by Joshua Berlinger and Taehoon Lee this article is a report by CNN on the how powerful nations, such as China, Russia, United States and South Korea responded to North Korea’s recent progress in in advanced Nuclear and Hydrogen bombs. With this recent event came an air of uncertainty, with many countries questioning on how they should react to North Korea’s provoking threats. North Korea has been boasting about their military strength for a while now, before the country had tried to flaunt its advanced weapons to other countries in a military parade, though many of the dangerous weapons seemed to be fake and only served to cause fear and gain recognition from others. While the actual level of danger North Korea poses to other world powers isn’t something that can be fully answered, the idea has caused tension and fear, and that if held true, it could cause destruction and the fall of powerful nations, whether it be from nuclear attacks or the toll it will have on the economy with the cease of commerce concerning countries that aid many countries markets, such as China. This scare is reminiscent of the Cold War, with tightened tensions with the US and Russia being similar to the pressure between North Korea and many larger nations, while the nuclear threat between both countries eventually died down, the same closing might not be brought about to the end this crisis with North Korea, with many other powerful countries taking part this event there might be long lasting devastating effects. Over all, this rise in tension could amass to a world war, but with communication and strides between many countries trying to quell North Korea’s rise, an end with little consequences could possibly be obtained.

Source:

http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/04/asia/north-korea-nuclear-test/index.html

More Information on the matter can be found here:
http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/04/politics/haley-north-korea-united-nations/index.html

http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/03/asia/hydrogen-bomb-north-korea-explainer/index.html

http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/03/asia/north-korea-nuclear-test/index.html