The conflict between North Korea and the United States really began as soon as Donald Trump became president. On January 2nd, 2017 President Trump declared on Twitter that North Korea should never posses a weapon capable of reaching the continental U.S. He did this in response to the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un claiming on New Year’s Day that they were in the final stages of developing an intercontinental ballistic missile. Then, on January 19th, 2017, the day before President Trump recited the Oath of Office, the U.S. Intelligence satellites picked up activity at the Chamjin missile factory, located Southwest of Pyongyang, which is the capital and largest city in North Korea. They found apparent Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles in the final stages of being built and were soon going to be tested.

Now just about ten months later, the tensions have escalated to a very critical point. Many people feel that war, or some sort of dreadful thing, will break out because tensions can only rise so high before they snap.

President Trump tweeted about the North Korean foreign minister speaking at the United Nations; North Korea thought the tweet that said, “North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un won’t be around much longer,”  was a declaration of war. However, according to CNN, “We have not declared war on North Korea. Frankly, the suggestion of that is absurd.”

War between North Korea and the U.S. is very unlikely; while several threats have been made between the two, these threats have proven to be empty.  According to Reuters, “North Korea’s leader has delayed a decision on firing missiles towards Guam while he waits to see what the United States does.” North Korea does not want to strike without America doing anything wrong and America does not want to have to use military force against  North korea. Although tensions are very high and and continue to rise, neither country will strike without the other provoking them to strike first or someone striking first.

If World War III happened, it would be way too costly with both the amount of money and the amount of lives lost. So both countries are trying to avoid war from breaking out. North Korea and the U.S. will continue to make threats towards each other but no actions will follow these empty threats.