By Jane Han
NEW YORK ― How are ordinary Americans reacting to an escalating nuclear threat from North Korea after a third nuclear test Tuesday that follows its Dec. 12 long-range rocket launch?
They don't appear to be worrying too much because they are confident about their country's military capability to deal with such a threat. A common thread in responses by people here indicates a hint of superiority on the borderline of complacency over the rogue state.
Many are simply too busy with their work to pay much attention to the danger that has not become clear and present.
''Am I supposed to be scared?'' asked Lorraine Payne, 43, a New York resident who was checking the news on her smartphone during her morning commute. ''Yes, I did see that North Korea specifically named the U.S. as its main target. But so what? That doesn't mean anything at this point. It's just talk.''
Richard Boxell, 33, who lives in New Jersey, says North Korea's nuclear test is nothing new, which is why he isn't ''all that worried.'' But there is one thing that does bother him a little this time around.
''They're talking about a miniaturized nuclear warhead. This could mean a lot of possibilities in terror attacks,'' he said. ''Are we ready to counter these new developments? I hope so.''
Pyongyang is yet to have the means to directly attack U.S. shores, but the latest test may bring the isolated regime a significant step closer to building intercontinental ballistic missiles that could reach America.
''It's not the most pleasant feeling to be an outright target of a country like North Korea,'' says Brenda Lee Simmons, 21, a New York University student, ''But I know that the U.S. government isn't weak enough to just sit and watch.''
She says she isn't too worried about nuclear attacks because of the general sense of confidence she has in U.S. defense capabilities.
Many people echoed this opinion on the blogosphere.
''U.S. military is light years beyond theirs,'' wrote a user named JulyClouds on Political Forum, a popular online community discussing current events. ''I'm not terrified that we're going to be nuked by North Korea.''
More people seemed to express frustration over the international community's ''same old'' response to Pyongyang's repeated provocations.
''North Korea is maxed out with sanctions,'' wrote a user named Junito on a CNN news forum, ''But most importantly, they have demonstrated that they are not concerned at all. By the time our world leaders finish talking and sanctioning North Korea, they will have fully operational nuclear weapons and then no one will dare touch them.''
While ordinary citizens don't consider North Korea's third nuclear test as a serious threat, experts raise concerns that a more powerful Pyongyang can spell real trouble.
''We need to start taking North Korea's weapons program a lot more seriously before it's too late,'' said Kevin Long, an international security expert based in Los Angeles, Calif. ''The regime's intent and ultimate goal pose a direct threat to us whether we like it or not.''
He says North Korea has been making speedy developments over the past few years, stressing that the progress deserves attention.
''It's easy to say, 'Oh, another nuclear test,' but each of those tests add up to build a monster military technology aimed right at us,'' said Long.
NEW YORK ― How are ordinary Americans reacting to an escalating nuclear threat from North Korea after a third nuclear test Tuesday that follows its Dec. 12 long-range rocket launch?
They don't appear to be worrying too much because they are confident about their country's military capability to deal with such a threat. A common thread in responses by people here indicates a hint of superiority on the borderline of complacency over the rogue state.
Many are simply too busy with their work to pay much attention to the danger that has not become clear and present.
''Am I supposed to be scared?'' asked Lorraine Payne, 43, a New York resident who was checking the news on her smartphone during her morning commute. ''Yes, I did see that North Korea specifically named the U.S. as its main target. But so what? That doesn't mean anything at this point. It's just talk.''
Richard Boxell, 33, who lives in New Jersey, says North Korea's nuclear test is nothing new, which is why he isn't ''all that worried.'' But there is one thing that does bother him a little this time around.
''They're talking about a miniaturized nuclear warhead. This could mean a lot of possibilities in terror attacks,'' he said. ''Are we ready to counter these new developments? I hope so.''
Pyongyang is yet to have the means to directly attack U.S. shores, but the latest test may bring the isolated regime a significant step closer to building intercontinental ballistic missiles that could reach America.
''It's not the most pleasant feeling to be an outright target of a country like North Korea,'' says Brenda Lee Simmons, 21, a New York University student, ''But I know that the U.S. government isn't weak enough to just sit and watch.''
She says she isn't too worried about nuclear attacks because of the general sense of confidence she has in U.S. defense capabilities.
Many people echoed this opinion on the blogosphere.
''U.S. military is light years beyond theirs,'' wrote a user named JulyClouds on Political Forum, a popular online community discussing current events. ''I'm not terrified that we're going to be nuked by North Korea.''
More people seemed to express frustration over the international community's ''same old'' response to Pyongyang's repeated provocations.
''North Korea is maxed out with sanctions,'' wrote a user named Junito on a CNN news forum, ''But most importantly, they have demonstrated that they are not concerned at all. By the time our world leaders finish talking and sanctioning North Korea, they will have fully operational nuclear weapons and then no one will dare touch them.''
While ordinary citizens don't consider North Korea's third nuclear test as a serious threat, experts raise concerns that a more powerful Pyongyang can spell real trouble.
''We need to start taking North Korea's weapons program a lot more seriously before it's too late,'' said Kevin Long, an international security expert based in Los Angeles, Calif. ''The regime's intent and ultimate goal pose a direct threat to us whether we like it or not.''
He says North Korea has been making speedy developments over the past few years, stressing that the progress deserves attention.
''It's easy to say, 'Oh, another nuclear test,' but each of those tests add up to build a monster military technology aimed right at us,'' said Long.
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