World War III may be upon us much sooner than we think.

Tensions between the United States and North Korea have reached a new high. North Korea has recently undergone its sixth nuclear weapon test back in September, which caused worldwide criticism from countries including China, Japan and South Korea. North Korean officials stated that the weapon tested was a thermonuclear weapon that was capable of hitting the entire contiguous United States. North Korea has blamed the need for such tests on the threats made by the United States government and the military drills conducted by the U.S. and South Korea. North Korea has also gone on to say that war with the U.S. is “inevitable.” This is the closest to nuclear warfare we have gotten since the Cold War. Many people around Triton also seem to think that war with North Korea is in the near future.

“I think times are pretty dangerous right now,” said Special Education teacher Robert Brislin. “Because with everything that’s going on right now, it could result in war unless the sanctions are upheld or more sanctions are put in place.”

History teacher and wrestling coach Mr. Shawn McElligott also shared a similar view on North Korea.

“War with North Korea is definitely a possibility,” said McElligott. “ But with their military capabilities, it’s probably not something they’re going to win.”

The Doomsday Clock is a hypothetical countdown to worldwide nuclear catastrophe. With midnight meaning nuclear war, the closest we have ever gotten to nuclear war was back in 1952 when we were 2 minutes to midnight during the Cold War. We are currently now at 2 and a half minutes to midnight.

Junior Isaiah Webber voiced his concern and fear of what happens when the clock does strike midnight.

“It really scares me,” said Webber. “It’s almost hard to even believe that we are that close to all out nuclear war. It makes me think about what the world would look like if that happens.”

President Trump has stated that the U.S. might possibly attack North Korea. In a quote from one of his tweets, Trump has said that after North Korea fired their recent missile test that “Additional major sanctions will be imposed on North Korea today. This situation will be handled!” (The Guardian). It can be assumed that if this were to occur then a war may possibly ignite and could potentially become global.

“It’s scary to think about,” said Webber. “This might just be the beginning of the end.”