On September 9th, 2016, North Korea completed their 5th, and potentially most powerful nuclear test. It produced a greater yield than its previous tests and also demonstrated North Korea’s ability to mount a warhead on top of a rocket. 

This has raised many red flags in the United Nations. Considering the magnitude of the test, President Obama had called forth South Korea and China, North Korea’s main ally, to abandon their nuclear tests or face severe consequences. The U.S. has threatened North Korea with more sanctions and a greater presence around North Korea.

This conflict is only the latest in a series of incidents that have boiled for decades. Conflicts between the U.S., North Korea, and South Korea have occurred ever since the end of World War II. After tensions came to a head during the Korean War, world leaders have been wary of the rogue North Korean State. Even China, one of their supposed allies, are afraid of the recklessness of Kim Jong-Il. A North Korean collapse brought on by starvation, war or economic collapse could lead to millions of refugees crossing over the border into China and South Korea. 

Even though the UN has warned North Korea to stop its nuclear program many times, North Korea refuses to disarm. Kim Jong Un’s regime has also threatened the UN with Nuclear War if more sanctions are put into place. “This will just make it worse; if that didn’t work the first time, why do it again,” said WHHS sophmore Laith Hamdan. Surprisingly , they have also claimed that they will be making 20 more uranium bombs by the end of this year. Along with this and the recent nuclear test, Melissa Hanham, a senior research associate at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, says, “It’s hard for us to verify their claim. My deep fear is that they will launch a live nuclear weapon on one of their missiles, but that would be extremely dangerous as that could trigger a war,”

In the following days, North Korea had a grand parade to celebrate its achievements. For now, North Korea will be keeping the weapons operational and they are not giving them up. They claim they require them for their offensive regime.