North Korea has claimed that the underground explosion it caused on Tuesday was a test of a hydrogen bomb. Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un claims that this bomb will “make the world look up” to North Korea as a strong nuclear country. The leader and his party are excited to be opening the year with the exciting news of their first hydrogen bomb. Though many scientists outside of North Korea doubt that the bomb was actually a hydrogen bomb, it does raise awareness of the increase of nuclear weapons over the years.

Since World War II, possession of atomic bombs have been used to display a country’s military power. Countries have exploded thousands of warheads on land in order to get ahead. North Korea’s claim is a game changer in the form of scientific knowledge and military power. It is also a game changer with regards to the health of the earth. Over the years scientists have warned that nuclear weapons are one of the biggest threats to the environment of the earth.

Atomic bombs alone do tremendous damage. The atomic bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan in 1945 killed about 40,000 on the same day it was dropped and nearly 70,000 were killed by the end of that year due to radiation exposure. Hydrogen bombs are made by the fusion of hydrogen atoms resulting in a bomb up to a thousand times more powerful than conventional bombs. If the result of one atomic bomb is not enough to scare the world, consider the damage of a hydrogen bomb which is up to a thousand times more powerful.

Nuclear weapons destruct in explosive forms of energy such as heat and radiation. Every time an atomic or nuclear weapon is tested, underground or above, humans are exposed to radiation. If the radiation dose is large enough, it can kill a person in days. Not only will the bombs affect the human race, but it is also harmful to the environment other living things depend on as well. Air pollution is already a serious problem in many parts of the world. These weapons do nothing but excavate that problem. The smoke caused by the weapons forms into clouds and rises into the atmosphere and can destroy the ozone layer. The ozone layer is needed to protect life on earth from extreme levels of ultraviolet rays.

Additionally, these weapons also produce waste which is likely to end up in waterways, oceans, and soil. Not only will it contaminate drinking water, but it will kill off many species that habituate these environments by polluting their food sources. To extend, the effects could change global climate and lead to famine as crops will not be able to grow.

The world is entering a dangerous race to possess extreme weapons. Whether North Korea successfully detonated a hydrogen bomb or not, mankind needs to be aware of the permanent damage it can cause. North Korea has increased the fear in neighboring countries and has globally increased the fear of Armageddon. The world has evolved to a place where mankind seems intent on destroying the only home that it has been given.