A majority of Americans believe their government should be treating the nuclear threats being levied by North Korea “very seriously,” according to new findings from Pew Research Center released Tuesday.
Fifty-six percent said the U.S. should treat North Korea’s threats to use nuclear missiles against the U.S. “very seriously,” while more than a quarter said the government should be taking the threats “somewhat seriously.” A mere 14 percent said the threats should be taken “not too seriously” or “not at all seriously.” Forty-seven percent said they believe North Korea has the capability of firing a nuclear missile that can reach the United States, a perception that runs counter to the recent assessment of South Korea’s defense chief. Another plurality of 47 percent said they think North Korea is willing to make good on their threats to launch a nuclear strike on America.
The survey also found a correlation between people who have followed the recent provocations from North Korea and how seriously they take the threats from the so-called hermit kingdom. Among those who are following the North Korea story very closely, 73 percent said the U.S. government should take the threats “very seriously.”
