North Korea: North Korea’s new leader brings continued uncertainty

With the death of former leader Kim Jong-Il, the rise of North Korea's new leader Kim Jong-un continues the political dilemma the U.S. and other countries face when dealing with this turbulent country.

North Korea declared to the world that under its new leader its feelings and commitment towards defeating South Korea and its allies will never be moved, according to Euronews.

A spokeswoman for North Korea's National Defense Committee stated, "The sea of bloody tears by our people and military will chase the rebellious faction until the end to become the sea of revenge, burning the rebellious faction until nothing is left. The sound of mourning will become the roaring of the sound of gunfire to collapse the puppets' stronghold."

Ever since the Korean War, North Korea has continually been a problem for the world, specifically to the United States and South Korea.

It has gained nuclear power, continually threatened South Korea, and has starved and brainwashed its own people, which is an act that should not go unpunished. But for now, the United States and other countries are incapable of making any new moves that will help to deal with North Korea. There are a few main reasons for this.

The U.S. has no way to gauge Kim Jong-un's ability to lead his people down the path his father and grandfather did before him. Little information, including his exact birthday, is known about this young and inexperienced leader. Time is the test that will show his ability to deal with the challenges that may force the country to its knees, such as a teetering economy and starving people.

Secondly, the United States has no power to make North Korea do anything. Michael Ceriello, professor of political science at Clark College, brought up a headline that he read about the United States asking China to put pressure on North Korea. "That headline caught my attention because it just pointed out that we have nothing over there. We have no leverage whatsoever … that's not a position that we are used to being in."

The United States is currently trying to work with North Korea to persuade it to halt its efforts to increase its nuclear supply of uranium in exchange for food support, but the progress is slow and uncertain. It may be impossible to force North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons. Ceriello said after watching how helpless Iraq and Libya were without nuclear weapons, North Korea will not willingly give them up.

While the countries and people of the world wait and watch to see North Korea's next move, they should continue being committed to helping North Koreans gain their freedom.

Americans must remember the words of Martin Luther King Jr., "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere," and stand up for justice in every nation and for every person if we claim to be a people who believe in freedom and justice.