video courtesy AFPTV
South Koreans express fear and anxiety after US President Donald Trump declared that North Korea would face “fire and fury” the “likes of which the world has not seen before” that was followed by a warning from North Korea that it was prepared to strike near Guam by mid-August.
“It’s [Trump’s ‘fire and fury’ remark] really scary personally, and obviously I think it’s bound to escalate things. Such a remark shouldn’t be made in times like this, and it’s rather scary for us to watch,” said Lee Sung-yeul, a university graduate.
Another university student, Lee Yu-bin, said: “My boyfriend is in the military protecting this nation as a soldier. So I feel more worried because someone close to me is involved. And as a citizen watching such news just makes me more nervous.”
She thinks Trump’s remarks could actually provoke North Korea.
“I think making such strong remarks is actually provoking North Korea. Making too strong a remark results in escalated anxiety for our people.”
Trump’s remarks also appeared to echo Pyongyang’s own regular threats, most recently repeated on Monday, to turn Seoul into a “sea of flames”.
“North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States,” said Trump, speaking from his golf club in New Jersey. “They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen.”
Trump’s tone was markedly different to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s assurances last week that Washington was not seeking regime change in Pyongyang. ( Agence France Presse)
