-- Published: Monday, 21 March 2016 | Print | Disqus
By Nathan McDonald
The world is once again on edge. Global uncertainty, which is already at a heightened level, has exploded even higher.
The cause of this escalation is the renewed jabbering from North Korea's fanatic leader, Kim Jong Un.
Aggression from North Korea has been continuous since the days Kim Jong Un’s father ruled, with both threatening to destroy the world in one way or another. These talks have carried on since with the death of the former leader and the continuation of power in the hands of his son.
Yet, something very major has changed. No longer is the world ignoring these statements, for things have rapidly accelerated in regards to the technology that North Korea possesses, leaving many to wonder how they advanced their knowledge so quickly.
Since the start of this year, a timeline has been constructed by the Arms Control Association which paints a very grim and very scary picture:
January 6, 2016: North Korea announces it conducted a fourth nuclear weapons test, claiming to have detonated a hydrogen bomb for the first time. Monitoring stations from the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization detect the seismic activity from the test. The type of device tested remains unclear, although experts doubt it was of a hydrogen bomb based on seismic evidence.
February 7, 2016: North Korea launches a long-range ballistic missile carrying what it has said is an earth observation satellite in defiance of United Nations sanctions barring it from using ballistic missile technology, drawing strong international condemnation from other governments which believe it will advance North Korea’s military ballistic missile capabilities.
March 2, 2016: The UN Security Council unanimously adopts Resolution 2270 condemning the nuclear test and launch of early 2016, and demanding that North Korea not conduct further tests and immediately suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile program. Resolution 2270 expands existing sanctions on North Korea by adding to the list of sanctioned individuals and entities, introducing new financial sanctions, and banning states from supplying aviation fuel and other specified minerals to North Korea. Resolution 2270 also introduces a requirement that UN member states inspect all cargo in transit to or from North Korea for illicit goods and arms.
This timeline, although scary on its own, is made even worse when coupled with the statements that are coming from North Korea's leadership and state run media:
"Our hydrogen bomb is much bigger than the one developed by the Soviet Union… If this H-bomb were to be mounted on an intercontinental ballistic missile and fall on Manhattan in New York City, all the people there would be killed immediately and the city would burn down to ashes.”
With recent developments in their technology, these comments cannot and will not be ignored by world leaders. South Korea and the United States are planning their largest-ever joint military exercise, which will simulate the invasion of North Korea.
In addition to this, even "friendly" countries to North Korea, such as Russia and China, are putting pressure on North Korea and strongly warning against any aggressive action. They are even going so far as stating they would take action if North Korea were foolish enough to commit such an heinous act.
There is no doubt that North Korea is even now being closely monitored to ensure that they don't take any further actions. What is not clear, and what should be concerning to many around the world, is whether or not Kim Jong Un is crazy enough to actually follow through with his threats.
A nuclear strike would forever change the world and lead to retaliations that could possibly rip the world asunder. Once again, we stand on a knife’s edge and uncertainty abounds.
The views and opinions expressed in this material are those of the author as of the publication date, are subject to change and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of Sprott Money Ltd. Sprott Money does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, timeliness and reliability of the information or any results from its use.
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-- Published: Monday, 21 March 2016 | E-Mail | Print | Source: GoldSeek.com
