Last week, Donald Trump issued a missile attack on Syria as a warning to President Assad and his regime.
It was a prompted response to the Syrian government reportedly launching a chemical weapons attack on their own people.
On Sunday, the Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and warship fleet, belonging to the US, diverted its course and heading for the Korean coast.
The move came as tensions heighten between North Korea (also known as Democratic People's Republic of Korea - DPRK) and its enemies. And now the American President has warned the East Asian nation is 'looking for trouble'.
In a double tweet, Trump showed that he wants the support of the Chinese - a nation that favours trade with North Korea (90 percent of the secretive state's trade is with China).
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Russia has already stated it is 'extremely' worried that America may act against Kim Jong-Un, while Pyongyang's state newspaper reported on Tuesday morning that their nation is ready.
"Our revolutionary strong army is keenly watching every move by enemy elements with our nuclear sight focused on the US invasionary bases not only in South Korea and the Pacific operation theatre but also in the US mainland," it said.
On Monday night, a spokesman for North Korea's foreign ministry said: "This goes to prove that the US' reckless moves for invading the DPRK have reached a serious phase. The DPRK is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the US. We will hold the US wholly accountable for the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by its outrageous actions."
Credit: PA
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But is there need for concern? Aidan Foster-Carter, an honorary senior research fellow in sociology and modern Korea at Leeds University, told LADbible not to believe everything that comes out of the 'weird' country.
"If you go by what comes out of North Korea you'd think we were at war the whole time," he said. "We've got used to them feeling threatened, and being threatening.
"However, what is new is we've now got [Donald] Trump. Previous presidents have tried to reign things in. He talks in riddles: 'we'll do something but we won't tell you what it is'.
"Obama was perhaps a disappointment. He took the 'strategic patience' approach. His advisors told him at the start what may be solvable, Cuba and Iran, and what won't. North Korea, he was told, will have no chance.
"North Korea have said they are 'unfazed'. This is a new one for them."
Credit: PA
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South Korea borders the North, and its capital, Seoul, is a mere 30 miles from the border with North Korea. It homes around 20 million people.
"There's been a huge hint of military force with this aircraft carrier, but we know that South Korea will not want any forceful action," explained Foster-Carter. "They are a US ally, and are grateful for the protection, but they are on the front line.
"As for North Korea, they could take advantage of the South Korea situation. They've just impeached their President, and it's likely the people will elect someone who is nice to the North."
Satellite imagery analysis suggests North Korea could be preparing for a sixth nuclear test, with US intelligence officials warning that Pyongyang could be less than two years away from its goal of striking the continental US.
Speculation of an imminent nuclear test is brewing as the North marks major anniversaries including the 105th birthday of its founding leader on Saturday. This is something which is celebrated with a demonstration of military might.
Foster-Carter believes Trump could try and strike one of these rockets on their lunch but, again, the South Korean allies may not look favourably in it.
He also said: "There's much controversy about what weapons they've got. But whatever they've got they are getting better at it.
"Their testing has markedly increased. We think they can now launch from a submarine, and that could be a game change.
The range of North Korea's missiles. Credit: geology.com
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"Their leader is always there to supervise the launches, and these are becoming more mobile," he continued. "They have a space programme where satellites have been successful.
"We don't know how close they are to having a missile that covers the Pacific. If they have one, it would be a huge bargaining chip."
The Chinese army has reportedly sent 150,000 troops to the North Korean border to prepare for the attacks, and to help take care of any North Korean refugees.
China has deployed medical and back-up units from the People's Liberation Army to the Yalu River.
Donald Trump has recently met with the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, to discuss the situation, with China's nuclear envoy also arriving in Seoul on Monday for talks on the North Korean threat.
"China would step in for North Korea, here there is absolute continuity," assures Foster-Carter. "China is annoyed with North Korea but it doesn't want to lose it. It doesn't want a state with US troops right on its border. If Trump does something in this sense, it would be secondary against Chinese firms.
"The idea of two superpowers colliding doesn't bare thinking about. We can only hope that US and China have secret contingency plans about North Korea.
Credit: BBC
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So, is it likely there'll be a war?
"It would be a hostile war, but North Korea would lose," certifies Foster-Carter. "The carnage would be unthinkable. Bill Clinton, who was the last president to consider serious action, has said it would be an end to their country.
"The war probably won't happen, but you can never rule it out. Someone will miscalculate, there'll be an escalation. It's usually North Korea who are unpredictable, but now there is the Trump factor.
"The thing is, nobody knows Kim Jong-Un or what he wants. Why can't some serious diplomats meet him? Buy him off?
"What's a good tester? South Korean food supermarkets. People stock in times of crisis.
"North Korea is reassuringly alone. There must be a deal to be done. It may be unpleasant, but then you'd have it in the can."
Topics: kim jong-un, South Korea, Donald Trump, China, USA, North Korea, US
