32. Why Do We Laugh at North Korea But Fear Iran?

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/04/why-do-we-laugh-at-north-korea-but-fear-iran/274680/

Straight forward, Julian Hattem a reporter at The Hill, says on April 4th that there is something about Kim Jong Un that makes Americans laugh and not believe his treats. Hattem begins his article explaining that when famous basket ball player Dennis Rodman was called to go to North Korea in February, the United States "giggled." He then talks about a propaganda video that shows Obama and American troops on fire, and a little before a Korean dreaming about a rocket destroying an American city, they laughed and mocked them, saying "It was bizarre from start to finish." Hattem then says "A man starves his own people and threatens to start a nuclear war, and Americans laugh. What a bizarre thing to do." Hattem then talks about why they fear, on the other hand, threats from Iran, and the differences that North Korea and Iran has. Hattem then says that it's also a matter of geography. He says that even though North Korean claims, there is no way that their rockets can reach an American mainland, because of the distance. Even if it could, there is plenty of time for the United states to shoot it down while in the Pacific Ocean. Hattem then ends explaining that, they mock the North koreans, because the Kim regime has remained steadfast of American hegemony. Americans are already used to North Korea being awful, but not awful enough to put in action a military response. Nothing has changed in North Korea, "they torture their own people, they threaten us, they rattle sabers, and we mock them because they've been threatening and rattling sabers for years. And still nothing changes."

In this article Hattem states very strong but true statements that show why the United States aren't so worried about North Korean threats on American mainlands. Hattem makes allusions to famous basketball player Rodman, and says how Kim Jong Un welcomed Rodman into their country, and despite anything, Kim is a huge  fan. Hattem explains that, after a recently launched propaganda about a Korean sleeping and dreaming about an attack on american soil and Obama and American troops on fire, they all mocked and laughed at the North Koreans. He puts an emphasize on why it would be next to impossible for North Korea to bomb an American mainland, and how his threats are nothing. He then contrasts this situation with Iranian situations, he explains why the fear Iran and not North Korean. His diction thought the essay is strong, but in some parts a little sarcastic and ironic. Hattem ends his article making a very true yet strong statement by going back in history and explaining that North Korea has threatened them a long way back, and yet nothing changes.