A Tough Choice

Patrick Chappatte/The New York Times/PoliticalCartoons.com

North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un has long insisted he will never give up his nuclear weapons, which he has used to threaten his country’s neighbors—and the U.S. (see "North Korea: Ready to Talk?"). So it was a surprise when, in March, Kim said he was prepared to talk to U.S. leaders about “denuclearizing.” But American officials don’t know if Kim would really be willing to give up North Korea’s nuclear arms program. They’re also concerned that he will change his mind later. 

This cartoon addresses that uncertainty. Note that Kim, who is speaking here, is not identified with a label. Instead, the cartoonist uses the device of caricature—exaggerating certain characteristics of a subject to make him or her easily recognizable. Study the cartoon, then answer the questions.

1. Who is the speaker? How can you tell?

2. What choice is he having to make here?

3. What might be significant about his use of the word today?

4. What do you think the cartoon is saying about him?

WRITING PROMPT

What difficulties do you think U.S. leaders might have in dealing with a leader as unpredictable as Kim Jong Un? How could failing to be firm with him—or being too tough—backfire? 

Scott Stantis/Chicago Tribune/Tribune Content Agency

Facebook users are finding out their private info isn’t as private as they thought, as this cartoon points out.

Randy Bish/PoliticalCartoons.com

Opioids are often prescribed as medicine, as indicated here by the Rx symbol. Yet that can be a deadly trap.

Lesson Plan (1)
Text-to-Speech