If history dictates the present, there will be no serious damage caused by the constant threats made against one another in this childish and undiplomatic back-and-forth between North Korea and the USA. David Kang, director of Korean Studies Institute at the University of Southern California, said, "The big thing we keep missing about North Korea is that their threats are always the second half of a sentence, and we ignore the first half. North Korea consistently says, 'If the United States attacks us first, we will fight back."
What we need to keep in mind is that the threats made by either party are no indication of a first strike.
This pattern of belligerent rhetoric is similar to previous years. Although the tone has changed with the current administration, the intentions remain the same - to make a move only if attacked.
Why is Kim Jong-un making flamboyant demonstrations with missiles?
To answer this question, we need to look a little deeper into the bubble he lives in. One that might very well be on the brink of bursting. It all started when President Harry Truman ordered ground troops to assist South Korea in their war against the North - the nation that wanted both the Koreas to reunify using sheer force. This was done so that the pervasion of communism would be hindered. Millions of Koreans died and many cities were burnt.
The fighting between the U.S. and North Korea ended in 1953, but it didn't end in a truce or a treaty and instead ended in a ceasefire. The United States has over 30,000 US troops in South Korea, which the other Korea believes is preventing them from unifying with the South. To understand North Korea economically, it is a nation has been bogged down in poverty while being surrounded by prosperity.
With American involvement, countries like Japan, China, and South Korea prospered in wealth while North Korea plunged. This was a bitter pill for North Korea to swallow.
The Kim family dynasty has been, since their coming to power, pushing an anti-U.S. propaganda through different outlets such as media, schools, banners, etc.
Current moves
The tension between the U.S. and North Korea has been rising since the 50s but it became much more significant in the recent years with North Korea making vague but constant threats. This is Kim Jong-un's desperate attempt at staying in power while having minimal support from the people of his nation. He's standing on a precarious platform that could fall apart with one wrong move.
Kim Jong-un's detailed plan to attack Guam was, as expected, not well received by the Trump administration. President Trump boosted the tension by stating that they are "locked and loaded" in the case of an attack made by Kim. North Korea responded by claiming it would unleash "enveloping fire" around Guam.
The best bet for both North Korea and the U.S. right now is to keep their guard up but to never make the first move. Words can be thrown around but without acting, they'll be deprived of any meaning and on this occasion, that seems to be what is necessary for world peace.
