CNN previews how war with North Korea would play out

CNN brought retired General James Marks into their studio on Wednesday afternoon to explain the military strategies North Korea and the United States would likely employ in a conflict.

Assuming North Korea struck first, the country would begin firing artillery into South Korea while deploying special operation forces along the coast of the peninsula. Marks also warned North Korea had sleeper agents in South Korea who would spot targets.

The United States would respond by destroying North Korea's artillery with its overwhelming naval and aerial power. The U.S. military would then destroy North Korea's aerial defenses, communication lines, and transportation routes. Marks predicted the "instantaneous" response from the U.S. and South Korea would paralyze the North within days.

North Korea has become increasingly hostile over the past weeks. The country has threatened to "mercilessly strike" the United States with nuclear weapons and warned that war could break out "today or tomorrow." But the retired general doubted the North Koreans would provoke a full-scale war.

"The risks are way too high, the North understands that," he explained. Marks said any conflict would likely be limited, citing the bombardment of Yeonpyeong Island by North Korea in 2010.

Watch video, uploaded to YouTube by CNN, below: