Could this lead to war? An American soldier has disappeared into North Korea, a country the world knows little about. Its leader, Kim Jong-un, talks of war.
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American soldier bolts into enemy territory
Could this lead to war? An American soldier has disappeared into North Korea, a country the world knows little about. Its leader, Kim Jong-un, talks of war.
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What's happening?
"Get that guy!" Soldiers shouted as Travis King ran laughing over the border into North KoreaA country formed in 1945 when Japanese-occupied Korea was split between a Communist government in the north and a capitalist one in the south. Today it is extremely reclusive, and hostile to the West..
The US soldier was supposed to be flying home from South Korea. But instead he has disappeared after running without permission into North Korea.
North Korea is the world's most secretive country. And since the Covid-19 pandemicAn outbreak of disease which occurs across a wide geographic area, as opposed to an epidemic, which is confined to a particular region., it has become even more secretive. All of its borders are shut, and Americans are not allowed to travel there. In the past, the country has sent Americans to prison.
The country is run by a dictatorA ruler who has total power, and has often taken power by force. , Kim Jong-un. Nobody knows what he will do next. This month, the country tested a weapon that could reach the USA.
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The country has been at war - on paper, at least - with its neighbour South Korea since the 1950s. The Americans helped South Korea in that war.
The fear is this could go nuclearA nuclear weapon has a devastating potential to cause damage. A few countries around the world have them.. Both the USA and North Korea have nuclear weapons. North Korea has "not yet answered" the US Army's call about its missing soldier.
But could this really start World War Three? Wars have started over very small things in the past - often when two countries already do not get along.
But others think this actually could be a chance to change things for the better. Some experts think that the soldier could lead to the two sides talking to each other again.
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Could this lead to war?
Yes! Things could get out of control. The USA and North Korea do not speak to each other. Small problems can become big problems quickly.
No! North Korea's leader does not want war. He simply makes nuclear weapons to look strong. He will not start any fights with the USA over one soldier.
Keywords
North Korea - A country formed in 1945 when Japanese-occupied Korea was split between a Communist government in the north and a capitalist one in the south. Today it is extremely reclusive, and hostile to the West.
Pandemic - An outbreak of disease which occurs across a wide geographic area, as opposed to an epidemic, which is confined to a particular region.
Dictator - A ruler who has total power, and has often taken power by force.
Nuclear - A nuclear weapon has a devastating potential to cause damage. A few countries around the world have them.
American soldier bolts into enemy territory
Lost: Travis King has not been heard from since he ran across the border into North Korea. Glossary
North Korea - A country formed in 1945 when Japanese-occupied Korea was split between a Communist government in the north and a capitalist one in the south. Today it is extremely reclusive, and hostile to the West.
Pandemic - An outbreak of disease which occurs across a wide geographic area, as opposed to an epidemic, which is confined to a particular region.
Dictator - A ruler who has total power, and has often taken power by force.
Nuclear - A nuclear weapon has a devastating potential to cause damage. A few countries around the world have them.