American military officials say they're expecting a long-range ballistic missile test from North Korea for Christmas. President Donald Trump is eyeing something more decorative, Eurasia Diary reports citing CNN.
"Maybe it's a nice present," Trump said Tuesday underneath the gold-vaulted ceilings of Mar-a-Lago when questioned how he'd respond if Pyongyang fired a missile over the holidays.
"Maybe it's present where he sends me a beautiful vase as opposed to a missile test," Trump said. "I may get a vase. I may get a nice present from him. You don't know. You never know."
It was an optimistic (and joking) approach to the sinisterly un-merry promise from North Korea to deliver the United States a "Christmas gift" if there's no progress on lifting sanctions by year's end. The matter has consumed national security officials for weeks.
A series of tests that North Korean officials said were crucial for its nuclear program seemed to presage a bigger event by December 31. The commander of Pacific Air Forces said it was possible North Korea could launch a long-range missile. Trump has conferred with his counterparts in China and Japan on the issue.