After seven decades studying the threat of atomic weapons, Nobel laureate John Polanyi says the world is closer than ever to nuclear war. But, in his view, you don鈥檛 need to move to the fallout shelter yet.
鈥淎re we in greater danger with the passage of time? If we don鈥檛 have discussions such as the one we鈥檙e having today, the danger will be acute,鈥� Polanyi told CTV鈥檚 Your Morning on Monday, the same day U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence visited the tense Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea, where he warned America鈥檚 鈥渟trategic patience鈥� with Pyongyang鈥檚 nuclear ambitions is coming to an end.
"President Trump has made it clear that the patience of the United States and our allies in this region has run out and we want to see change,鈥� Pence announced. 鈥淲e want to see North Korea abandon its reckless path of the development of nuclear weapons, and also its continual use and testing of ballistic missiles is unacceptable."
Pence鈥檚 visit follows a week of rising tensions that saw the U.S. deploy a powerful supercarrier to the waters off the coast of the Korean peninsula, North Korea launch a failed missile test, and representatives from both countries engage in heated rhetorical exchanges. The increasing hostilities between the two nuclear powers had many fearing a nuclear conflict might be on the horizon.
But Polanyi cautions that the world鈥檚 nuclear-armed nations 鈥� United States, Russia, United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel 鈥� wield their power the same way: as a deterrent.
And he thinks North Korea, despite the bluster, is no different.
鈥淭hey [North Korea] could do enormous damage, but their intention, as far as I can understand, is not to try to conquer the world,鈥� Polanyi said. 鈥淭heir intention is to protect themselves against what they think is a very hostile world.鈥�
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think there will be any military action. I think there will be a continuation of these threats,鈥� he said.
