FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again. We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

Mr Pompeo has suggested North Korea is an urgent priority for the CIA and the agency is trying to set back North Korea’s nuclear programme. The intelligence chief said the US is developing a range of options from diplomacy to war. He said: “We’re working to prepare a series of options to make sure that we can deliver a range of things so the president will have the full suite of possibilities. The president is intent on delivering this solution through diplomatic means. “We are equally at the same time ensuring that if we conclude that is not possible, that we present the president a range of options to achieve what is his stated intention."

GETTY Trump is considering a preemptive strike

But, analysts warn a limited strike would lead to a nuclear war should North Korea retaliate and cause an escalation. Former North Korean spy Kim Hyon-hui said Trump’s aim of denuclearising the country, which has been a nuclear state for over a decade, is not achievable diplomatically. He said: “North Korea won’t give up its nuclear weapons. They’re its lifeline.” If war was to break out, the South Korean capital of Seoul - a city of 10 million people in range of the North’s terrifying artillery - will be presumably destroyed in the opening stages of war.

Inside Kim's secret army: North Korean military laid bare in smuggled-out pictures Thu, January 11, 2018 The true face of Kim Jong un’s army has been laid bare in shocking new images smuggled out of North Korea Play slideshow Pen News 1 of 21 A female soldier on duty in high heels

Kim Jong-un’s propaganda portrays its nuclear and missile programmes to be focused on the US, but Mr Pompeo said the North does not view its nuclear warheads as just a deterrent to US invasion. Mr Pompeo said: “We do believe that Kim Jong-Un, given these toolsets, would use them for things besides simply regime protections – that is, to put pressure on what is his ultimate goal, which is the reunification of the peninsula under his authority. “This is a threat to the whole world.” The intelligence chief said the CIA considers North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to be a rational man but it is unclear if Kim Jong-un takes the prospect of a US attack seriously.

Tanks on move near North Korea border as Kim and Trump gear up for WAR Fri, January 5, 2018 North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reopened a key cross-border communication channel with South Korea for the first time in nearly two years Wednesday as the rivals explored the possibility of sitting down and talking after months of acrimony and fears of war Play slideshow REX 1 of 13 South Korean army's K-55 self-propelled howitzers take positions during a military exercise

In October 2017, Donald Trump said Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was “wasting his time” attempting to negotiate with North Korea. And when Mr Tillerson said last month he was willing to talk to Kim Jong-un without precondition, Trump’s administration “corrected him”. Press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Trump’s position had not changed, namely that talks were pointless. Mr Pompeo added: “I will leave to others to address the capacity or the wisdom of a preemptive strike.

GETTY The intelligence chief said the US is developing a range of options from diplomacy to war

“From an intelligence perspective, we’re trying to ensure that all the various options that the president might want to consider are fully informed, that we understand what’s really going on and the risks associated with each of those decisions as best we can identify them for him.” North Korea will participate in the Olympics which South Korean President Moon Jae-in said is a diplomatic opportunity to ease tensions. But, North Korea announced the first day of the Olympics on February 8 will be a national holiday to celebrate its army.

GETTY North Korea announced the first day of the Olympics will be a national holiday to celebrate its army