Is America at war with North Korea?

Answer 1

Yes and no.

America is aiding South Korea in setting up a defensive system called THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense). THAAD works in a fashion similar to the Iron Dome in Israel. It detects incoming missiles and fires an interceptor that destroys the missile with kinetic energy.

North Korea, who is known firing on South Korea, has stated that implementing the THAAD system is an act of war. Kim Jong Un, leader of North Korea, has declared war on the United States and South Korea. He has made comments about sinking South Korea into the sea until nothing is left but flames.

The US or South Korea currently has no intentions of taking the system down, and both say it is for defensive measures only. Secretary of State John Kerry has stated, "THAAD Is a purely defensive weapon, it is purely capable of shooting down a ballistic missile it intercepts and it is there for the protection of the United States." He was referring to US troops stationed in South Korea.

In short, North Korea has declared war on the United States, but the United States is maintaining a role of defensive actions only.

Answer 2

Technically, the US is at war with North Korea. As of yet, there is no peace treaty or recognition between North and South Korea, simply an Armistice that was signed in 1953. The armistice ended the actual fighting with a ceasefire, which is simply a "pause" in the war, not its termination. During the ceasefire, there are momentary flare-ups, but the US is not a position where there is a "hot war" with North Korea that soldiers are involved in.

The North Korean government argues that South Korea is not actually an independent country, but is a puppet state and a colony of the United States of America. The war against South Korea is, in their view, a war of liberation to bring southern Korea out of imperialist control and back to domestic Korean control. South Korea refuses to submit to the North Korean government. These two opposing wills lead to war. The United States supports South Korea financially, militarily, and politically because of the shared anti-Communist values between these two countries (and the more recent shift to liberal democracy in South Korea).