Tensions between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the U.S. date back to the Korean War, which came to an end through an armistice in 1953 instead of a peace treaty. Since then, both nations have considered the other to be a threat to global security as North Korea races to develop nuclear weapons that rival the United States’.
With President Trump as the Commander in Chief of the United States Armed Forces, the threat of another Korean war, perhaps nuclear, looms. President Trump’s tweets regarding North Korea have served to provoke North Korea.
North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! U.S.A.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 11, 2017
Had a very good call last night with the President of China concerning the menace of North Korea.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 12, 2017
I have great confidence that China will properly deal with North Korea. If they are unable to do so, the U.S., with its allies, will! U.S.A.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 13, 2017
Vice Minister Han Song Ryol of North Korea responded to the tweets by stating, “Trump is always making provocations with his aggressive words. It’s not the DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] but the U.S. and Trump that makes trouble.”
China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, claims “One has the feeling that a conflict could break out at any moment. The United States and South Korea and North Korea are engaging in tit for tat, with swords drawn and bows bent, and there have been storm clouds gathering.”
China, which has been one of North Korea’s most important allies in the past, faces immense pressure from the U.S. to restrain North Korea’s nuclear program. President Trump held a summit last week with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss trade and North Korean relations.
Both leaders praised the meeting as President Trump told reporters, “We have made tremendous progress in our relationship with China. We will be making additional progress. The relationship developed by President Xi and myself I think is outstanding.”
North Korea, on the other hand, celebrated “The Day of the Sun”, which marks the birthday of Kim Il Sung, the founder of North Korea, with an annual military parade in which they displayed new intercontinental and submarine-launched ballistic missiles. Choe Ryong Hae, a high-profile North Korean official declared,
As the extent of North Korea’s nuclear program begins to unravel, one question arises: will the rising conflict on the Korean peninsula result in the use of nuclear weapons?
