This video has become the latest threat North Korea has sent to the U.S., targeting the small island in the Pacific Ocean, Guam. The propaganda video by Kim Jong-un states that “all North Korea needs to do is to place its hand on a button” and that “the US will live in fear and anxiety the whole time.”
Despite these concrete threats, the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Agaña, Guam says the 162,000 inhabitants do not seem to be as nerved as one might think.
ARCH. MICHAEL JUDE BYRNES
Archdiocese of Agaña (Guam)
“I think the people of Guam live with this awareness that we're vulnerable in the Pacific. This is not the first time that some sort of threat or the first time that we've experienced war, in WWII. That memory is very much alive, year after year, after year.”
To help the citizens on the island, he has been reminding everyone that God is a provident God, even in uncertain times. They have held Masses for peace and are continuing to pray not only for peace, but for a prudent and measured response from world leaders in both North Korea and the United States.
ARCH. MICHAEL JUDE BYRNES
Archdiocese of Agaña (Guam)
“Consider what you are doing. Consider the import of your words. See if what you are saying would actually contribute to peace. Conflict, especially military conflict, is by nature destructive. If we engage that, if the import of our words were to lead to that, then we're not seeking peace. We're not seeking the common good. It is for our common good, both the U.S., North Korea and really the whole world, that we not engage in military conflict in this issue.”
While the pope hasn't made an official statement concerning this situation, other countries have gotten involved. Australia also received threats by North Korea after stating it would back the U.S. and China has pleaded for the U.S. and South Korea to halt military drills in the area, which is provoking a heated response from North Korea.
On the island, the archbishop in Guam is hoping for cooler heads from leaders and a greater sense of stability and safety for his people.
