Conflict with North Korea intensifies

Nuclear war is certainly not a phrase the general public takes lightly, so when the conflict between North Korea and the United States escalated this summer, many people became very fearful of what the future may hold.

North Korea, an authoritarian, Communist regime in East Asia, has had very tense relations with the United States for decades. Since Kim Jong-un became Supreme Leader of the nation in 2011, tensions have risen even further, especially as he is attempting to expand his country’s nuclear program.

Following months of slowly escalating hostility, the conflict began to intensify greatly.

In May, North Korea launched several missiles near Russia and Japan. This led the U.N. Security Council to introduce new sanctions against the East Asian country in June. Military officials also brought revised military options to the attention of President Donald Trump in late June.

On July 4, North Korea claimed to have successfully conducted a test that showed their capability of reaching “anywhere in the world” with an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM).

After a second test by North Korea, the United States flew several stealth bombers over North Korea in a show of strength.

On Aug. 8, North Korea said they were considering a missile strike on Guam, a U.S. territory, going beyond just saying they had the capability of reaching the United States. Trump responded that if North Korea made any more threats, “they will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen.”

Since then, the conflict has continued to slowly escalate with shows of force on both sides. Only time will tell if this conflict cools down once again or intensifies into something even bigger.