With all of the attention currently being paid to Russia and China threatening to drag us into world war 3, apparently North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un was feeling a bit left out. Yesterday, the diminutive tyrant decided to launch one of his country’s latest and most advanced ICBMs. The nuclear-capable Hwasong-15 was sent on a nearly vertical trajectory, rising more than 3,500 miles in a flight that lasted more than an hour before falling back down into the ocean between their country and Japan. Kim described the test as a demonstration of his “fatal nuclear attack capacity” and analysts believe the Hwasong-15 is capable of reaching the mainland United States if fired at a normal launch trajectory. So is everyone feeling more comfortable now? (Associated Press)

North Korea said Sunday its latest intercontinental ballistic missile test was meant to further bolster its “fatal” nuclear attack capacity against its rivals, as it threatened additional powerful steps in response to the planned military training between the United States and South Korea.

Saturday’s ICBM test, the North’s first missile test since Jan. 1, signals its leader Kim Jong Un is using his rivals’ drills as a chance to expand his country’s nuclear capability to enhance its leverage in future dealings with the United States. An expert says North Korea may seek to hold regular operational exercises involving its ICBMs.

North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency said its launch of the existing Hwasong-15 ICBM was organized “suddenly” without prior notice at the direct order of leader Kim Jong Un.

Don’t expect the situation to calm down any time soon. After the ICBM test launch, the United States kicked off its planned military exercises with South Korea, Japan, and other Asian allies. Those drills had been announced in advance and were the “justification” Kim offered for launching the missile. So everyone is apparently preparing for the possibility of a nuclear war breaking out.

The good news is that North Korea doesn’t have a large stockpile of Hwasong-15s laying around at any given time. The missiles also use a liquid fuel propulsion system that can’t be stored in the vehicle for extended periods of time. That means they can’t fire them at a moment’s notice.

While North Korea has definitely achieved the ability to detonate a nuclear blast, it’s still unclear whether Kim’s military has perfected the ability to miniaturize a nuclear warhead sufficiently to mount it on its ICBM. They claim they have, and it’s certainly possible, but that’s a technologically challenging feat. It’s impossible to say with certainty, but it’s believed that Kim has enough fusile material for as many as 60 nuclear warheads and may have already constructed as many as 30.

Just to put this in perspective, we currently have the Russians threatening to deploy a nuke if Ukraine and the west cross any sort of perpetually shifting red line in the sand. China is still running drills very close to Taiwan’s airspace, presenting the possibility of America being dragged into a war there that would also have the potential to go nuclear. And now Kim Jong-un is climbing back into the nuclear saddle again.

Rather than returning to the relative levels of stability that were observed until a few years ago, the world is heading in the other direction. The Chinese are launching incursions right over our turf and nobody can say what Vladimir Putin is likely to do on any given day. How did the situation devolve so quickly? The world seems to be losing its collective mind and it’s happening at an alarming rate. While I hate to say it, we may need to reexamine America’s role as the world’s policeman.