White House officials and Asian leaders are concerned that North Korea may attempt to disrupt President Donald Trump’s trip to Asia by conducting a missile test — or even a far more shocking atmospheric nuclear test.
The feared nuclear explosion could be visible to the US President as he tours Japan and South Kore in a defiant show of strength that could trigger World War 3.
Previously North Korea conducted all testing underground, leading to a tunnel collapse that caused the death of roughly 200 nuclear workers.
South Korean intelligence has detected activity at a North Korean missile facility that would be consistent with a coming test launch, South Korea’s Yonhap News agency reported earlier this week.
One Asian diplomat claimed it was impossible to predict what Kim might do, but said a missile test would offer an opportunity for the US and its allies to “show solidarity” against Kim’s despotic regime.
Trump administration aides have reportedly planned for such North Korean provocation, according to one source familiar with the discussions.
Experts on North Korea have also predicted a missile launch by Kim Jong-un’s regime in the next two weeks during President Trump’s Asia trip.
Adam Mount, a senior fellow with the Federation of American Scientists, said: “I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest to see North Korea do a missile test during the trip.”
The reports have come after a new survey has revealed most Americans think President Trump is “really willing to use military force” against North Korea.
The data from the Pew Research Center revealed 84 per cent of Americans polled say they think Trump is “really willing” to use military force against the hermit kingdom.
88 percent of Republican respondents said they believed Trump would be willing to strike Kim Jong-Un, while 83 percent of Democrats said the same.
The survey was conducted from October 25 to October 30, just days before the US President departed for his trip to Asia.
During his 13-day tour of Asia, Trump will focus on North Korea and trade.
He will visit Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines amid increased tensions across the Pacific over North Korea’s dangerous missile tests.
However he is not expected to visit the Demilitarised Zone – which borders south and North Korea – during the trip.
Earlier this week, the US President’s national security adviser said the Trump administration is considering resisting North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism.