Another War โ€œWould be Devastatingโ€

North Korea has fired off its sixth test missile this week, while warning it will retaliate if provoked.

Chinese fishing boats have left the region because of tensions on the peninsula. Still, the U.S. says the situation is not a crisis.

The communist regime says it will take "self-defense" action if provoked by the United Nations Security Council. The council is mulling tough sanctions on the North for conducting a nuclear test.

Pyongyang says the council's five permanent member have conducted 99.99 percent of the world's nuclear tests and calls them "hypocrites."

The tension between North Korea and South Korea took another step toward possible war as North Korea renounced the truce between the two countries that has brought  peace to the region since 1953. 

U.S. leaders including President Barack Obama have condemned North Korea for defying international law. 

"North Korea's actions endanger the people of Northeast Asia," President Obama said. "Now the United States and the international community must take action in response."

U.S. military officials say North Korea has also been testing short range missiles and appears to be re-starting a weapons grade nuclear plant.

There are currently 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea.  Despite wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. Army's top officer says troops and resources would be ready for war, if needed.  "The short answer is yes," Gen. George Casey said.

A local expert on international security says a war with North Korea would be devastating to all sides involved.  "If a war were to start on the Korean Peninsula, it would make Iraq and Afghanistan look like kindergarten," SDSU political and security professor Ron Bee said.

Bee says North Korea may be flexing it's military muscle because a leadership change could be underway with current leader, Kim Jong Il possibly stepping down soon.  The new leadership could be trying to appear strong in international eyes.

North Korea could also be trying to put pressure on President Obama to help lift economic sanctions against  the country.  Either way, Bee says it is unlikely that North Korea would attack South Korea and start another war.

"They talk a big game, but when it comes down to it, they see on the ground that if they start something, their regime will go away," Bee said.

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