Living in a "War Zone"

So the number one question I've been asked these days is, "Are you guys okay living in South Korea?"  

My answer, "I hope so!"  

I remember hearing about North Korea bombing South Korea's Yeonpeong Island in 2010 from the comfort of my very safe living room in Maryland.  Sure, it sounded bad, but it didn't really effect me.  I remember thinking North Korea is just making noise.  They'll never really do anything crazy like attack Seoul. 

Honestly, living in the United States and hearing North Korea threaten Seoul and the US, I never really worried.  Growing up in America definitely gives you a sense of security you don't always get other places.  Sure, maybe I was a little worried about the Russians invading when I was young (yes, I saw Red Dawn as a kid and read George Orwell's 1984), but by the mid 90s, the Cold War was over and the fear of communism was gone. I never really had to think about another country invading my home.

Fast forward to 2013.  I now live 20 miles from the North Korean border.  Threats from North Korea seem a lot more real to me now!  I've been watching the news and reading the newspapers, constantly analyzing what Kim Jong Un could possibly be thinking.  Am I nervous?  I'd be an idiot to say I'm not a little nervous listening to him spout off about how he wants to turn the city where my family lives into "a sea of fire."  However, with that being said, I'm not scared.  The most recent statement from the US Embassy reads:  

The U.S. Embassy informs U.S. citizens that despite current political tensions with North Korea there is no specific information to suggest there are imminent threats to U.S. citizens or facilities in the Republic of Korea (ROK).  The Embassy has not changed its security posture and we have not recommended that U.S. citizens who reside in, or plan to visit, the Republic of Korea take special security precautions at this time.  The U.S. Embassy takes as its highest priority the welfare of American citizens in Korea.  Should the security situation change, the Embassy will issue updated information.

I feel safe reading statements like this.  I feel safe talking to South Koreans who remind me that the North has been threatening the South for more years than I've been alive, and nothing of real substance has ever happened.  I feel safe being reminded that North Korea does this every time South Korea elects a new president.  (South Korea's new president was just inaugurated this year.)  I feel safe as I watch everyday life here in South Korea remain unchanged.  

I still feel safe here.  I trust our military and Embassy to let us know when and if we need to leave.  For now, life continues as normal.  There are still dishes to wash, rooms to vacuum, and tourist sites to be visited.  

So to answer the question, "Are you guys okay?"

The answer is "Yes.  We're safe."  

But we have our passports right by the door just in case.  :)