Majority see war of words between Trump, Kim escalating

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A disconcerting majority of Gisborne Herald online readers think tensions between North Korea and the United States will escalate to military conflict.

In this week’s online opinion poll, 64 percent of 324 voters indicated they believe the current war of words between North Korean leader Kim Jong un and US President Donald Trump will develop into an actual war.

Only 26 percent did not consider the verbal threats would end in military conflict, and 10 percent voted “don’t know”.

Of course, no one knows the outcome yet and this poll was purely to ascertain how people felt about the escalation between two unpredictable leaders who both have nuclear warheads at their disposal.

One voter summed this up by voting “no” and adding, “Really? Gisborne Herald struggles with webpoll questions again!”

Others who voted “no” felt the war of words was just that, “all talk”, while others were clearly unsettled by the question even being asked.

“Why don’t you just ask if there is going to be a Third World War? Is that what you mean? What is the point of this question? Does it really matter what people think about the possibility of war?”

Those who voted “yes” were more fatalistic about the possibility.

“Sooner or later one of the madmen is going to push the red fire button.”

Another online reader said if Trump had anything to do with it then, yes. “Both leaders . . . should just shoot each other.”

One who opted for “don’t know” said: “While both leaders are ramping up their verbal threats, neither want to be the one who physically starts the big one. I think Trump should leave North Korea alone. I think North Korea would have only used nukes in a defensive manner. Now that Trump has been poking the bear, who knows what will happen.”

And the last word will go to another “don’t know” voter: “I certainly hope not!!!! Someone make Trump shut up!”