Balancing on the Brink
- December 4th, 2017
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https://www.nbcnews.com/news/north-korea/u-s-drills-south-korea-trigger-nuclear-war-warning-north-n826176
After the North Korean ICBM test on Friday, the United States and South Korean have launched a military drill named Vigilante Ace. This drill comprises 24 stealth fighters alongside hundreds of other aircraft. This is in concert with 12,000 U.S. military personnel. The North has threatened nuclear war against the United States and South Korea for the “grave provocation” of the military drill. It is also one of the largest displays of the new American F-35 in a wargame scenario. Senator Lindsey Graham has suggested evacuating the families of military personnel in the event of a military conflict, which seems to be growing by the day according to rhetoric from the Trump Administration.
The reasoning for this drill is critical to understanding the heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The North Koreans have just launched an ICBM that many experts believe can hit most of, if not all of the United States. This was a threshold that the Trump Administration was keen on preventing the North Koreans from reaching. This in tandem with increasingly hostile rhetoric from the Trump administration over potential conflict with North Korea has all sides itching not to be caught with their proverbial pants down.
-Kyle
I believe that the biggest impact the U.S. will have during times of conflict with North Korea is having allies provide assistance. Even though it is directly the U.S. being threatened, it is in most state actors best interest to intervene with resources and unity to hopefully eliminate the possibility of nuclear war.
-Ayel
With two increasingly unstable leaders, this situation is alarming. One would hope that cooler heads will prevail. I am glad that at least we have some measures in place that would require real negotiations before impulse, bombast and braggadocio take over.
It is a big step, to say the least, that the U.S. has such a large military presence there and is now conducting drills. I think it is important to evaluate the credibility of the rhetoric of both nations, and the likelihood that either nation is talking the talk, or if they legitimately are at the brink of a nuclear battle.
Just a small thing of note, many of the US military posts in South Korea, particularly those at or near the DMZ, are already considered hardship posts, where soldiers are unable to bring their dependents. -Alexander
If tensions keep rising with North Korea, the conflict can potentially escalate into something detrimental. The Trump administration needs to do their best to avoid anymore rising conflicts between North Korea. The drill may be necessary at this time but also emphasizes the tensions with North Korea.
-Sydney