The Korea Situation

Korea's unprovoked shelling of South Korea has put the entire peninsula on high alert. Add the March 2010 incident when North Korea sank a South Korean naval ship killing 43 Korean sailors and you have the makings of a war, which could include both the U.S. and China.

China is a North Korean ally, but is quietly angry with North Korea's military action. China has been trying to improve U.S.-China relations and a war between North and South Korea could mean China will leave North Korea to itself.

That action could be a fatal one for North Korea. If China withholds its food and supply lines to North Korea, the North Korean government could collapse, sending thousands of refugees into China and the old government replaced by a Pro-U.S. government.

Recently, the U.S. sent the aircraft carrier George Washington into the Yellow Sea as a sign of U.S. support for South Korea, but the presence of the carrier makes China nervous. China requested the U.S. four months ago to refrain from sending any carriers into the Yellow Sea, which the U.S. agreed to do, but the military action North Korea took against South Korea changes things dramatically. Although the Yellow Sea is in international waters, China does not want a U.S. carrier roaming so close to China's shores.

It is believed that North Korea's actions is nothing more than some huffing and puffing to ensure the government is not ignored, but taken seriously, however, its actions are driving a wedge between North Korean and Chinese relations.

The U.S. and South Korea are holding military exercises in the Yellow Sea during the next few weeks, knowing North Korea will be taking notice.

If a war starts in the area, there will be no clear winners. And with North Korea's nuclear capability, strategists believe North Korea won't hesitate to use their missiles if they see they are losing the war.