The United States Secretary of State John Kerry visited President Park Geun-hye of South Korea in Seoul on April 12.
Kerry’s trip was taken after a Pentagon assessment suggested North Korea may have formulated a way to fire a nuclear-tipped missile, according to CNN News.
U.S. officials reported North Korea could test-launch a mobile ballistic missile, which would be viewed as a highly provocative move. However, other administrative officials believe there aren’t reasons to believe such nuclear missiles exist, according to CNN News.
WTAMU student Vitaliy Skorodziyevskiy, an International Business major, is skeptical of North Korea’s anticipated actions.
“There is nothing to be worried about,” Skorodziyevskiy said. “We all know who is not on their side: the U.S., the E.U., and South Korea. That’s enough to make them think twice before launching what they have.”
Like Skorodziyevskiy, WTAMU student and military veteran Nune Perez, majoring in Political Science, also questions North Korea’s plans.
“North Korea has been known to in the past [to] throw these ‘temper tantrums’ in order to get a relaxation on its United Nations imposed sanctions,” Perez said. “I do not believe it to be in the best interest of our nation to dive back into a war with North Korea, but we have and always will support the democratic South Korea.”
Kerry pledged an unbending U.S. military support against any attack from the North. Before his departure, South Korea and the United States released a joint statement that emphasized Washington’s commitment to defending Seoul “in the wake of recent unacceptable provocations” by the North, according to CNN News.
WTAMU student Luke Gogey, a Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science major, observed the allied cooperation first-hand as an Engine Cadet at the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
“I feel confident in our relations with South Korea,” Gogey said. “I witnessed both [America and South Korea] working together back in 2010 while working on the SSK Jacob bulk ship contracted by the Navy. There wasn’t any tension. Our teamwork is powerful.”
