Sunday morning, North Korea conducted a hydrogen bomb test. China reported seismic activity from North Korea. Japan and South Korea began to send sniffers to check for radiation and surveil known compounds. North Korea went on to broadcast that they tested a hydrogen bomb within about an hour.
Initial estimates put it at around one hundred kilotons. For reference, the bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima was 15 kilotons.
All I can think is what has our country become? What do we stand for? After World War II, world leaders got together and declared never again. Never again would we stand by and watch genocide.
A common statement made by the United States is that our allies in hostile regions need to take the lead, and I agree that we shouldn’t get involved in every foreign conflict. But at what point do we look around, realize that there is no one willing to lead, and take the lead? Who is leading the free world? Who is taking responsibility? Who is standing by our words, never again?
We must remember that a lot of these allies we expect to take the lead are relatively unarmed. We realized the power of nuclear weapons decades ago. We saw the devastation they had in Japan. We recognized the threat they pose during the Cold War. As a people aspiring for peace, we didn’t want nuclear weapons to be spread around the globe. We told our allies not to seek the nuclear bomb. We do not want more of these things on our planet. Now our allies are unarmed and nearing a real nuclear threat. Whether we want to or not, we must accept a certain level of responsibility in this.
Now, our allies in Japan and North Korea are within striking distance of a nation who has declared their intent to destroy. We, as Americans, have a responsibility as a world super power, whether we like it or not. And we have been remarkably restrained compared to powerful nations throughout history.
There is a difference between restraint and complacency. We will soon find out where this line is, that is if one exists at all.
No American wants to see perpetual war, nor do we want to get involved in conflicts unless absolutely necessary and in the interests of our nation or our allies.
I don’t know what the answer is, but I do know what concerns me. I’m concerned that the world will only take action once a nuclear bomb has been dropped. This is unacceptable. At that point, it is too late. And all of those in the world who had the power to do something to prevent this and knowing that this is their goal and what they were working towards will share the blame. It’s easy to see North Korea’s recent expansion of their bomb testing point at Trump and go well he’s provoking them. It is hard for me to blame the person sending Tweets as the cause for someone else dropping a nuclear bomb on a peaceful people.
I’m concerned that the world will only take action once a nuclear bomb has been dropped. This is unacceptable. We have the power to do something, we know North Korea’s intentions, and yet we continue to slap them on the wrists.
There is a call for an emergency UN meeting regarding this morning’s test. All we can do is wait to see what they decide. To be frank, I’m not all that confident in the UN and other world leaders.
North Korea has shown no signs that it seeks to be anything but a destructive force and a military state.
When the founders of our country wrote the Declaration of Independence, they wrote,

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security

This is not a call for destroying the North Korean government. It is highlighting that We the people once declared that there is a duty to take action when a power is marching in one direction, towards despotism. Prudence keeps us rightly restrained. But at what point does Prudence turn to surrender?
Are we the kind of people that turn a blind eye to a military dictatorship testing bombs with the repeatedly declared intent to harm us and our allies?
I certainly hope not.