Adm. Mike Mullen: North Korea Situation Worrisome

ABC News' Huma Khan reports: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen today warned of destabilization in East Asia if North Korea acquires nuclear weapons or continues to provoke its neighbors.

"I think worrying is something we ought to stay with," Mullen said in an appearance with his wife, Deborah, on "The View." "It’s a worrisome leadership in North Korea. He [Kim Jong Il] is a very unpredictable guy, a very dangerous guy. This is also tied, we think, to the succession of this young 27-year-old whose going to take over at some point, and he continues to generate these kinds of events."

Like President Obama, Mullen also called on China to stand firm against North Korea.

"The one country that has influence in Pyongyang is China and so their leadership is absolutely critical," he said.

On Tuesday, White House officials said they are mulling the possibility of more U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises to show solidarity and support. The United States currently has 28,000 troops in South Korea, Mullen said.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman also warned of destabilization if North Korea continues to pursue nuclear arsenal. Just days earlier, North Korean revealed an upgraded and strengthened uranium enrichment plant to western scientists. 

"If he continues on that path, him with nuclear weapons or his son is a very dangerous outcome for the long term and it will continue to destabilize a really important part of the world," Mullen said.

Mullen also addressed the terrorist threat within U.S. borders and the controversy surrounding the Transportation Security Administration’s new screeners and pat-downs.

Terrorists like the Christmas day underwear bomber “are still out there. They’re still trying to kill as many Americans as they can so it’s not going to go away,” he said.