Credible threats of nuclear war have not been as profound as they are in the society of today, since the Cold War. The nuclear tension between North Korea and the United States has been escalating at an alarming rate. As a resident of Seattle, I am living in the target area of a potential strike. As a United States Marine, I am one of the first to go when our Nation calls. But what is the likelihood of us actually engaging in nuclear war? Is Kim Jong-un really an insane dictator— lost in his own version of reality, or is he an intelligent and calculating leader attempting to influence the world around him? By using something from the social sciences called game theory, we can break away from the speculation in the media and systematically begin to understand the problem. We can analyze the people involved, their preferences and expectations, and what available actions they can take to achieve these goals. By attaching a theoretical payoff to every action a nation may take, such as North Korea or the United States, we can compare the possible outcomes and accurately predict the course of action by relying on two fundamental theories— first that people are rational. And secondly, that people are always looking to rationally maximize their utility. Through my research, I have found that when you analyze a leader like Kim Jong-un, you realize that his actions, however brash or combative they may be perceived, are actually rational choices. Furthermore, his decision to progress his nuclear program is also rational. Despite that, the crux of my research is that nuclear war with North Korea is currently very unlikely. Using the models from game theory, I can change this assertion from one that typically comes from speculation, to one of calculation.