MELTIN’ DOWN

THE SABER-RATTLING between the U.S. and North Korea has the residents of the city’s Korean neighborhoods wondering if the recent ratcheting up of tensions is more of the same or something to be worried about. New York is home to roughly 140,000 Korea natives, most of whom call Queens home. Restaurants serving up traditional barbecue and other Korean delicacies line the streets of Flushing — where the largest concentration of immigrants from the troubled peninsula have settled down. Some said they feel a stronger hand may rein in unpredictable North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, but fear too much bravado may send him over the edge. “I have family in South Korea, but I’m not worried,” said 45-year-old Jun, who works at a Korean market in Flushing. “This has been happening for decades, since the Korean war. (President) Trump is trying to fix the problem but I don’t think he will. North Korea won’t change.”The barbed rhetoric from the White House and continued threats of preemptive strikes from both the U.S. and North Korean leaders has others on edge. “I think there is a great deal of nervousness and fear among my constituents,” said state Assemblyman Ron Kim (D-Queens). “Especially among the younger generation. They’ve been very outspoken about finding a path to unification on the peninsula.” Kim, the first Korean-American elected to the state Legislature, said there seems to be a generational divide, but most people want to find a path to peace. “Among the older generation, they have family in South Korea that would be directly impacted if this turns hostile.” Kim said he’s crafting a state resolution calling on the White House to seek an end to the current tensions that have left many on edge. Regina Bae, 50, a pharmacy worker, was cautiously optimistic about Trump’s strongman policy toward North Korea. “Maybe Trump can control him. I hope so,” she said. “I just don’t want bombs. That would be the worst thing that could happen.” Wan Ko, 75, who runs Jae-il Pharmacy in Flushing, was blunt in his assessment. “Trump is strong. Trump will fix it. Mike Pence is strong, too,” he said as he held up a Korean newspaper with a photo of Vice President Pence. “With Trump and Pence North Korea (will be) no more.”