The article, ‘Koreas trade fire; island residents in shelters’ talks about how North and South Korea have deepened animosity against each other. They have done this by firing missiles into each other’s territorial waters. This article also explains how leaders of the two countries have been making war rhetoric to each other. It goes on to state how Pyongyang’s threat to fire at his neighbor drew wide international condemnation. In addition, the article talks about how the two countries’ rivalry has driven their citizens to temporary shelters because their homes have been destroyed and they fear the war could escalate.
The concept this article illustrates is nationalism which is defined as, “a pride in one’s people and the belief that they have their own sovereign political destiny that is separate from those of others” (O’Neil 60-61). From the article, it is evident that North Korea feels they have the sovereign power to conduct live-fire drills in the part of the sea that is in dispute. It also shows how most leaders do not care about what happens to other people as long as their personal goals are achieved. The North is not concerned about the consequences of her actions as they have put their pride in the frontline, not minding how their actions will affect the livelihoods in the South.
The article further illustrates how the continued war rhetoric has caused unrest in the two nations. As some of their citizens’ homes and sources of incomes are being destroyed, the two leaders continue to make threats against each other. The article also illustrates how the actions of one individual can affect the lives of many other lives because the actions of Pyongyang to fire the artillery at his neighbor and his neighbor firing back has caused the suffering of many of their people. It also illustrates how power is used by those who have it to their advantage without caring about their consequences.
Works Cited
Kim , Hyung-Jin , and Jung-Yoon Choi. "Koreas trade fire; island residents in shelters." Washington Times. The Washington Times, 31 Mar. 2014. Web. 4 Apr. 2014. <http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/mar/31/north-korea-and-south-korea-trade-fire-island-resi/>.
