I am not a supporter of war, of bombing nations or joining the army, though I commend those that do serve in our military. But North Korea has broken my patience, and must face its crimes and threats. Recently, North Korea has been very aggressive toward South Korea and America.

This may be because of the new management in North Korea from Kim Jong Il’s son, Kim Jong Un. Kim Jong Un was groomed and hand-picked out of his other brothers by Kim Jong Il himself and has been leading the country for a little more than a year. Since he has taken the throne, North Korea has been very busy organizing its military and firing up its nuclear rocket capabilities.

Last October, North Korea claimed it had missiles that could specifically reach the American mainland. In December, North Korea also set out a long-range missile that reached all the way to the Philippines. After the launch, the U.N. and North Korea’s ally, China, condemned North Korea for its missile launch.

In January of this year, North Korea announced that its nuclear weapons program is no longer negotiable and has planned to test a nuclear bomb, defying its sanctions. The isolated nation also has been aiming its missiles all around the world, especially threatening to send missiles to America and South Korea if it gets any more sanctions, which it will also ignore. Its nuclear testing has made South Korea uneasy, announcing that it would begin to attack North Korea if provoked.

Now, against the U.N.’s increased sanctions, North Korea still presses on its militaristic advances in nuclear and rocket testing. South Korea urges for a nuclear arsenal of its own to protect itself but is probably not going to receive that.

I believe now is the time for action; it is time for America and the rest of the world to finally stand up to North Korea and stop hoping for peace. North Korea has violated human rights for decades, threatened major nations, has become more difficult to keep under control and is ignoring warnings and threats from international powers and its own allies. America and the U.N. have been avoiding North Korea for a while out of fear of beginning a nuclear war, but now it seems North Korea is taking the first steps in this game of nuclear chicken.

There is now nothing to lose if we confront North Korea, which either way will most likely lead to that nation’s inevitable nuclear assaults upon enemy nations; but if we act sooner than later, we may stop its nuclear advances altogether. If America is willing to fight for Syria under the merit of protecting people being attacked by their government, then we should also begin to target North Korea and its constant oppression of its people and aggression toward neighboring countries.

North Korea is a growing danger to itself and those around it, and though many have been avoiding this conflict for years, I believe now is the time for the U.S. to go on the offensive. Not an all-out war, but something to put Kim Jong Un back in his place. This game of chicken needs to end before millions get hurt.