U.S. National security advisor Jake Sullivan stated on Wednesday that U.S. intelligence indicates that North Korea may carry out a nuclear test, a missile test or both either before, during, or after U.S. President Joe Biden takes his trip to South Korea and Japan this week.
Sullivan spoke at a White House briefing and said, "We are preparing for all contingencies, including the possibility that such a provocation would occur while we are in Korea or in Japan".
He also said that the United States is currently coordinating with both South Korea and Japan and spoke with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi regarding North Korea during a phone call on Wednesday.
Sullivan stated, "We've indicated in quite clear terms that our intelligence does reflect a genuine possibility that there will be either a further missile test, including long-range missile test, or a nuclear test, or frankly both, in the days leading into, on, or after the president's trip to the region".
He also said that the U.S. is ready to make short-term and long-term adjustments to military posture as needed in order to "to ensure that we are providing both defense and deterrence to our allies in the region and that we're responding to any North Korean provocation".
Although last week the White House had said that Biden would be visiting the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) which divides North and South Korea, spokesperson for the White House Jean-Pierre said that he would not be in fact visiting the DMZ.
"He will he will not visit the DMZ ... not on this trip" she stated.
Sullivan spoke at a White House briefing and said, "We are preparing for all contingencies, including the possibility that such a provocation would occur while we are in Korea or in Japan".
He also said that the United States is currently coordinating with both South Korea and Japan and spoke with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi regarding North Korea during a phone call on Wednesday.
Sullivan stated, "We've indicated in quite clear terms that our intelligence does reflect a genuine possibility that there will be either a further missile test, including long-range missile test, or a nuclear test, or frankly both, in the days leading into, on, or after the president's trip to the region".
He also said that the U.S. is ready to make short-term and long-term adjustments to military posture as needed in order to "to ensure that we are providing both defense and deterrence to our allies in the region and that we're responding to any North Korean provocation".
Although last week the White House had said that Biden would be visiting the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) which divides North and South Korea, spokesperson for the White House Jean-Pierre said that he would not be in fact visiting the DMZ.
"He will he will not visit the DMZ ... not on this trip" she stated.