United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon speaks to reporters before a Security Council meeting at the U.N. headquarters, Jan. 6. North Korea trumpeted its first hydrogen bomb test Wednesday. Pyongyang’s announcement was met with widespread skepticism, but whatever the North detonated in its fourth nuclear test, another round of tough international sanctions looms for the defiant, impoverished country. (Seth Wenig, The Associated Pres)
Re: “US, S. Korea and Japan vow tough response to N. Korea,” Jan. 7 news story.
So, North Korea apparently has rattled its nuclear sword again by testing another bomb. While we should be concerned, we also should keep the event in proper perspective. The government of North Korea knows that if they ever launch nuclear missiles at the United States or South Korea, the U.S. response would be swift and sure retaliation with its own nuclear weapons. Also, they know history shows that the U.S. will not hesitate to annihilate an enemy nation’s civilians by the tens of thousands with such weapons when deemed appropriate.
The world knows what the use of nuclear weapons in warfare looks like. Perhaps one day soon, through diplomacy, the world will see North Korea put its nuclear sword back in its scabbard, permanently.
Bill Wagner, Eaton
This letter was published in the Jan. 9 edition.
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