The US President will set off on his highly anticipated tour of Asian nations tomorrow as tensions between Pyongyang and Washington remain strained.
And he is widely expected to use the trip to send a stern message to Kim Jong-un, having repeatedly issued explosive warnings over the hermit state’s nuclear missile programme.
But Anita Kumar, a reporter for McClatchy News, urged Trump to “watch what language he uses” over fears any dramatic threats could provoke the secretive regime.
Citing experts, she suggested North Korea could conduct its 23rd missile test this year to coincide with Mr Trump’s second major foreign trip between November 3 and 14.
She said: “What experts are telling me, though, is that there might be a missile test by North Korea while President Trump is travelling.
“That’s going to put him on the spot while he’s in China or South Korea.”
“So that would be huge. He’d have to decide then and there how to react.”
South Korean defence sources also believe North Korea may fire a missile when Donald Trump visits the region, according to Yonhap News Agency.
Talking about President Trump’s focus during the trip, during which he plans to visit South Korea on November 7, Kumar said: “His number one top priority is North Korea.”
President Trump’s visit comes after US officials warned North Korea is developing an advanced version of its intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that could potentially reach the mainland United States.
A US official told CNN an upgraded version of the existing KN-20 is part of an accelerated effort by dictator Kim Jong-un to improve its nuclear capabilities.
Improvements to North Korea’s nuclear fuel, missile launchers, guidance and targeting systems are underway, the source claimed, and the US has now been forced to recalculate the timing of the threat that a North Korean missile could pose.
The revelation comes six months after North Korea tested its first ICBM – and officials say warn that Pyongyang may have the capacity to mount a miniaturised warhead on an ICBM by as early as 2018.
The US, South Korea and Japan has urged Kim to refrain from “irresponsible provocations” in a joint statement just days ahead of Mr Trump’s visit.
And last week James Mattis, US secretary of defence, said the US will launch a “massive military response” should North Korea use nuclear weapons.
His speech came after Pyongyang warned the world its threats to test a hydrogen bomb above ground should be taken “literally”.
And yesterday military authorities confirmed the US was taking the warning seriously – with top military officials admitting what was discarded as bluster could actually amount to a cold, hard threat.
An unnamed US official told Defense News: “I would fully expect if he‘s telling us he’ll do it, he’s going to.”
The news also comes after experts warned the humiliated despot may have no choice but to launch another test and fire the Juche Bird after 200 people died at one of North Korea’s underground nuclear testing when a tunnel collapsed on workers.
Expert Joshua Pollack said Kim would now push for a provocative “public demonstration” to regain some control.
He said: “North Korean leadership undoubtedly feels pushed into a corner.”