Korean-Americans react to attacks on South Korea

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When University of Southern California student Jane Hwang heard about the attack on South Korea, she called her family to check in.

"I talked to my mom, because she has sisters and brothers in Korea," Hwang said. "[My mom] says that if she were living there, she'd feel very unsafe, and that she'd feel pretty scared, but because she lives here, she feels that sort of barrier between her and North Korea."

Despite the distance, many Korean-Americans are anxious. Hwang said her Facebook feed is filled with messages and prayers.

"It's weird, because a lot of the Korean Americans are updating their statuses, because they feel some sort of connection," Hwang said. "I definitely feel the concern, and I definitely see the worries my friends have, at least."

But in South Korea, those worries are a part of daily life. Christy Hong, a student at University of California, Berkeley, grew up in South Korea. She said she became used to hearing about the threat.

"It seems like Koreans from Korea, they don't really care all that much, but maybe more so the Korean-Americans who live in America," Hong said. "I think it's because we've been growing up listening to all these crazy stories, and we've become, like, numb to that, I think. I think a lot of us just shut off, just stop listening to that."

The United States has promised a "measured" response to the attacks.

Photo courtesy of The Boston Globe