The Korean War permanently worsened tensions between the United States and North Korea. On June 25, 1950, the Korean war began, and the United States supported South Korea, while Soviet Union influenced the North. The war put the United States into direct conflict with North Korea, and direct conflict leads to worsened relations between countries. Following the Korean War, the United States limited contact with North Korea and allowed very little economic activity with the country. The little communication and economic activity between the two countries are signs that the Korean War worsened tensions. Another important cause of tension between the United States and North Korea was the start of North Korea’s nuclear weapon program.
After 2002, North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons has worsened tensions between the United States and North Korea. After North Korea admitted to it’s uranium based nuclear program in 2002, the United States helped to block oil shipments to North Korea. As a result of North Korea’s development of this program, the United States felt the need to take action, which shows the tension between the two countries. In 2006, North Korea had its first nuclear bombing test in an underground building, and the United Nations put in place economic sanctions on North Korea. The United States was a part of the sanctions, and the first testing of a nuclear weapon yet again worsened tensions, because the United States worries about North Korea’s nuclear capability. The Korean War permanently worsened relations between the United States and North Korea, and since 2002, North Korea’s development of a nuclear weapon program has not helped ease these tensions.