“The explosion of a nuclear weapon is an event of immense power… Within a fraction of a millionth of a second, the nuclear materials and casing of a one megaton weapon are transformed into a packet of energy five times hotter than the center of the sun” – Nicholas Wade

 While the fight for legitimacy by North Korea and control by America over the foolishness of nuclear arms race is yet unresolved, President Donald Trump’s behaviour, utterance, and criticism of NLF players protesting against racial injustice is unpresidential. His withdrawal of an invitation for the NBA champion Golden State Warriors to visit the White House not only breaks a long tradition dating back to the Reagan years, it is against the UN’s corporate Charter.

When the first-ever meeting of the United Nations General Assembly and the first-ever meeting of the Security Council, were taking place at the Methodist Central Hall in London 72 years ago, most of the world leaders today were yet unborn. The United Nation, a successor of the Leagues of Nation bearing in mind the effects of the Second World War agreed on a corporate UN Charter at the San Francisco Conference which begins with, ‘We the people of the United Nations determined: to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war; to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small.’  The feedback and fiery words from the General debate of the 72nd Session of the General Assembly of the UN at New York calls for global concern and prayers. President Trump of America standing before the representatives of the 193 members states in his maiden speech at the United Nations General Assembly last week Tuesday ‘painted a dark vision of a world where every nation stands alone and cooperation is transactional and motivated by self-interest rather than shared values.’

Before what someone called ‘the cathedral of international solidarity and cooperation,’ Trump delivered his hype-nationalist America First worldview. “As president of the United States,” Trump said “I will always put America first, just like you, as the leaders of your countries, will always, and should always, put your countries first.” What Trump failed to know is that the ownership of the future belong to God and life is interdependence as we are all migrants. I think ‘American evangelicals’ should remind Trump that the UN General Assembly is a place where countries come together to try to come up with collective solutions to global problems. The aspiration behind the formation of the UN over the past 72 years was that the entire world could look into the face of another, and recognise that person as sister or brother and not calling anyone ‘sons of a bitch.’ The UN as a ray of hope provides improvements in human right, universal education, combating extreme poverty, micro finance, Aids, polio, clean water, starvation, child mortality and Climate change. The formation of the UN suggests a movement of the Holy Spirit and war across the face of the waters, hence the drum of war and destruction between US and North Korea against the UN charter.

Kim Jong Un’s nuclear and missile programs represent one of the most dangerous challenges since the end of the Cold War. But Trump’s treat to destroy North Korea is not the answer as two wrongs does not make a right. In crisis there is both danger and opportunity. There are opportunities to stop the looming war and move the world forward. To avoid the worst of all scenarios, millions of lives in South Korea and Japan are at imminent risk, hence the need to hearken to the advice by the President of Nigeria, Muhammad Buhari on the virtue of a diplomatic track. According to Buhari, a retired army General, in “all … crises, the primary victims are the people, the most vulnerable being women and children. That is why the theme of this session: Focusing on People: Striving for Peace and Decent Life for All on a Sustainable Planet” is most apposite … All necessary pressure and diplomatic efforts must be brought to bear on North Korea to accept peaceful resolution of the crisis. As Hiroshima and Nagasaki painfully remind us, if we fail, the catastrophic and devastating human loss and environmental degradation cannot be imagined.. Nigeria proposes a strong UN delegation to urgently engage the North Korean Leader … guided by the spirit of enthroning a safer and more peaceful world, to ratify without delay the Treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons…”

The world super powers needs a rethink and transparency to overcome the quests for nuclear weapon. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the 72nd UN session accused US of a $1 trillion, 30 year modernisation of its ageing ballistic missile submarines, bombers and land-based missiles that was in breach of the UN treaty. Lavrov said “We have suspicions on at least three fronts that the Americans are creating weapons systems which violate or could violate the treaty obligations,” The nuclear war must stop if the UN is really focusing on people and striving for peace. The North Korea fight for legitimacy and Trump’s quest for control suggests two elephant fighting and it is the people that will suffer. The hope for this present evil age and its leadership of two – facedness and hypocrisy is Jesus Christ. Beyond the threats from North Korea and America, the flood of hatred, violence, immorality and the mockery of all that is good and holy will finally produce a response from heaven. Remember, this present evil age shall pass away, Jesus is coming again.