Experts told CNBC that North Korea may launch an intercontinental ballistic missile test, or even a nuclear attack to attempt to outshadow U.S. President Joe Biden’s visit to South Korea. 

“They’ve already done two intercontinental ballistic missile tests earlier this year and we’ve been seeing tunneling activity preparing for a nuclear test,” Bruce Klingner, senior research fellow at The Heritage Foundation, told CNBC’s “Street Signs Asia” on Friday. 

He said that the test was meant to “overshadow” Biden’s trip.

During Biden’s Asia tour, the White House had been anticipating such a move from North Korea.

According to Jake Sullivan (U.S. national security advisor), “Our intelligence does indicate the real possibility that there will either a ballistic missile test, a nuclear bomb test or both of these,” Sullivan said Wednesday before Biden left for Asia.

Biden arrived in Seoul on FridayFor a three day visit to South Korea and then on Sunday, will fly to Tokyo, Japan.

At the Quad summit, hosted by Japan’s leaders of Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (four-nation), he is present. This strategic grouping is made up the U.S. and Australia as well as Japan and India. Its purpose is to counter China’s growing military presence in Indo-Pacific.

Klingner of the Heritage Foundation stated that the U.S. wanted to meet with Pyongyang over a wide range of issues such as denuclearization but North Korea refused to do so at this time.

“They might choose to [conduct the tests]Biden used his trip to distract attention from the goals [of the trip] … in both countries,” he said, adding it’s also calculated to try to force Biden had to react to North Korean actions.

Klingner was also a former CIA officer and stated that a North Korea test would indicate that North Korea is strong despite recent reports that it has been fighting its nuclear ambitions. first reported Covid-19 outbreak.

He said that South Korea would have a closer relationship to the U.S., under President Yoon-youl. Furthermore, he stated that Washington will be the “foundation” for his relationships with countries like Japan, China, North Korea and Japan.

Klingner declared that Yoon said he is firmly aligned towards the U.S.

Invasion of Taiwan unlikely

Derek Grossman (defense expert) also rejected suggestions that an annexation might be possible invasion of Taiwan by China while the world’s attention is focused on Russia’s attack on Ukraine — something Japan has warned about in the run-up to the Quad summit.

Grossman was an Intelligence Advisor at the Pentagon and pointed out the difficulties of starting an amphibious invasion of any size.

Russia has a border land and sea that connects with Ukraine, China would need to cross Taiwan Strait which measures 100 miles,” he said on CNBC’s Capital Connection Friday. He also stated that China was required to cross Taiwan Strait.

Grossman explained that China and Taiwan are watching Ukraine closely. Grossman stated that China is certain to face international criticism and that the U.S. will work with its allies to try and decouple the economy from it, much like the sanctions on Russia.