North Korea's missile test
'Will you attack North Korea?' When US President Donald Trump was asked about this yesterday after North Korea demanded a successful test of the hydrogen bomb, he replied - "We will see."
But if Kim Jong Un's regime is really attacked, what kind of attack could it be? Is there any other way to handle North Korea?
Justin Bronck, a researcher at the Royal United Services Institute, says that no matter how unrivaled the United States is in military power, the number of options in the hands of the United States is not very large.
One of them is: 'Surgical strike' or precise military hit on a specific target
The US Air Force and Navy have the most advanced capabilities in the world.
The submarines at sea near Korea are launching Tomahawk missiles, and bombing North Korean nuclear and ballistic missile installations from B-2 fighter jets - it sounds like a pretty interesting plan.
The 30,000-pound penetrator bomb in the United States can also be used to damage underground installations.
However, if North Korea receives an early warning, the United States could be at risk.
Moreover, North Korea has a wide range of missiles and radar systems developed by the Russians, Chinese and its own people over the past 50 years - so it is very difficult to figure out exactly what kind of defense, how modern, or how well-prepared their defense system is.
When an American plane crashes, rescuing its crew can be a nightmare.
Most importantly, if North Korea's nuclear, missile, control room-like installations or leadership can be successfully attacked - they will at least be able to launch a deadly attack on South Korea.
Kim Jong Un sees North Korea's hydrogen bomb
Hundreds of rockets and artillery have been deployed along the border between the two Koreas - a deadly attack on about 10 million people in the South Korean capital, Seoul.
These are so numerous that it would take days for Makin's forces to destroy them - and before that the US-allied South Korea would suffer massive casualties.
That is why South Korea opposes such an attack, because North Korea can only do so much damage to South Korea with ordinary cannons and rockets without nuclear weapons.
Another option: a full-scale ground operation inside North Korea.
But North Korea's huge military, its artillery capabilities, its air defense strategy, and South Korea's reluctance - make such an operation less likely.
Without it, such a campaign would require months of public preparation by US forces, as well as deactivation of North Korea's nuclear capabilities.
Another downside is the potential for millions of deaths on both sides.
The course of North Korea's missiles
In the Korean War of the 1950s, China sided with North Korea - preventing the establishment of a Western ally on the other side of its border. China may not want to see such a situation yet.
Apart from that, rebuilding a country after a war will be a very difficult task.
Another option: intensify efforts to contain North Korea.
The risk is the lowest. But it may be the least work. Because so far, various defense systems and armies have been deployed, but this has not stopped North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.
If such deployments continue to increase, North Korea will take it as a preparation for a ground operation.
Russia and China will also object and try to create problems for the United States in other areas - such as Europe and the East China Sea.
The United States could increase the number of its missiles, warplanes, warships, and troops in South Korea, Guam, and Japan - but it will be extremely expensive and tensions will continue to rise.