North Korea has made an alarming threat against the United States and its allies that continues a long history of aggression.

The most recent activity began Dec. 12 when the country launched a satellite missile, which they said was for non-hostile purposes.

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The U.N. Security Council condemned North Korea’s missile launch as a violation of the ban against nuclear and missile activity Jan. 22. The council, including North Korea’s ally China, punished Pyongyang with more sanctions and ordered the regime to refrain from a nuclear test or face “significant action.” The country’s leader Kim Jong Un rejected the new U.N. sanctions and refused to acknowledge them.

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North Korea’s state television station, KRT, broadcasted a message Jan. 25 that said, “if the puppet group of traitors takes a direct part in the U.N. ‘sanctions,’ the (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) will take strong physical countermeasures against it.”

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CNN reported Jan. 30 that a North Korean nuclear test will happen soon, but the exact date is unknown. U.S. officials are eyeing the developing situation and are worried as well.

The U.S. Defense Department seem both concerned and annoyed at the recent developments and the continued appropriation of nuclear arms.

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U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said, “We are very concerned with North Korea’s continuing behavior. We are fully prepared … to deal with any kind of provocations from the North Koreans. But I hope in the end that they determine that it is better to make a choice to become part of the international family.”

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Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said, “I think that everyone is familiar with the tactics that the North Koreans use. They create a crisis and the rest of us pay a price to return to the status quo.”

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“If you go by what little activity we see and by their rhetoric, which is usually consistent with their actions, it’s a good bet they will do (a test) soon,” said an unnamed official according to a CNN report.

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“The trash talk has reached such a crescendo that by their own ego, we don’t see how they back down. But let me be clear, the physical signs don’t show imminence, because the major activity is underground.”

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“North Korea is a rogue state with nuclear weapons and no viable economy,” said Daniel Kamin, a DePaul international studies professor. “Periodically, the government in Pyongyang increases its inflammatory and provocative rhetoric in order to get the attention of the American government.”

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Kamin explained that North Korea’s intention appears to be to pressure the United States into giving aid to the North Korean economy in exchange for restrictions on North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs. Kamin also said the Obama administration does not seem to have any interest in “buying the same horse twice” after the collapse of negotiations last year.