South Korean, U.S. Students React to Potential North Korean Threat
Dickinsonians from South Korea, while not concerned about the perspective of a war with North Korea, are still worried about their families living in the country.
Domestic students also share this sentiment of worry, but not because of war.
North Korea has also been shooting missiles over South Korea and Japan for some time, which many South Korean students seem to be nonchalant about.
“I am not worried about it. It’s just not realistic. South Koreans who are living right next to North Korea are not even worried about it, I don’t get why Americans are freaking out about it,” said another Korean student, David Jeong ’20. “Kim Jong Un isn’t that stupid to start a war.”
Although some students from South Korea have said they do not think their country is in danger, there is still some concern for their families.
Soneun Kim ’20 said she was reading articles in the library about a North Korean missile launching that went down south, close to her home city. Kim said, “I immediately called my parents asking if they are okay and how are things in the country. I mean I knew there isn’t something serious going on yet but still I was worried. I try to think positively and convince myself that war is not going to happen.”
Younse Park ’21 also said that she was “a little bit concerned of the safety of (her) family and the country,” however she also said that the prospect of South Korea going to war was “not realistic.”
Some South Korean students also raise questions about their current government policies on North Korea.
“It is true that he [President Moon Jae-in] has been overly generous with North Korea until a certain degree, which I found skeptical about when the two Koreas are technically still at war.” said Younghoon Jang ’21.
However, some students support President Moon.
“He deliberately deals with this issue both domestically and internationally.” said Jongho Choi ’18, from Seoul, South Korea, “He sees the importance of maintaining peace in Korean peninsula.”
Domestic students have mixed feeling about President Donald Trump’s actions concerning his tweets, one of which was interpreted by the North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho as a declaration of war according to an article published by express.co.uk on Sept. 27.
While Austin Lipscomb ’20, a political science major, does not believe that the U.S. is on the brink of war, he said that he did not think that Trump’s provoking of Kim was the way to handle the situation and that it is “not the manner in which a president should treat a foreign leader…”
“As crazy as some people view both leaders… I just don’t think that either man is crazy enough to start a nuclear war,” said Grant Shearer ’19, president of the Dickinson College Republicans’ Club. Shearer also said that he felt some of Trump’s comments are “a little brash and a little un-presidential,” but he is “glad he [Trump] is taking a firm stance [even though] …the way he is presenting that firm stance is a little off base and isn’t quiet what should be done.”
“The trend [toward negotiation between the U.S. and North Korea] is not going in the right direction,” Andy Wolff, associate professor for political science and international studies and department chair for international studies, said, however, “It is hard to say [if Trump’s responses to the situation are effective] because we don’t know the end result yet.”
Preston McLean ’20, social media chair for the Dickinson College Democrats’ Club, said that the U.S. is should be “open to negotiate away from this brinkmanship while not compromising [U.S.] security or that of our allies in the south [of North Korea] and around the Pacific.”
“We’re in this with our allies,” said Jeff McCausland, professor of international security studies, “making this [the conflict with North Korea] a bilateral problem between us and the north Koreans frankly is unhelpful.”
“We need to remember,” said Doug Stuart, professor of political science and international studies, “South Korea is much more knowledgeable than we are on issues relating to North Korea. Seoul has been dealing with 24/7 threats from Pyongyang for over six decades. For all of these reasons, the U.S. should ‘lead from behind’ by supporting and encouraging South Korea.”
“…all crises must end, at some point in time these things resolve themselves.” said McCausland “They can resolve themselves well…or poorly…but they all resolve themselves one way or the other.”