The US government considers a provocation by North Korea in the form of a missile or nuclear weapon test to be possible in connection with US President Joe Biden’s upcoming visit to Seoul.
“We are preparing for all eventualities, including the possibility that such a provocation may take place while we are in Korea or Japan,” Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan said at the White House on Wednesday. “We are closely coordinating this with our allies in Korea and Japan.” The US government is also in contact with China about North Korea.
Biden is leaving on his first trip to Asia this Thursday in office. First he visits South Korea, on Sunday he flies on to Japan. The two countries are America’s closest allies in the region. White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said Wednesday Biden would not visit the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between South and North Korea during his trip.
