American intelligence officers assessing North Korea intentions ahead of a possible nuclear summit believe the regime has no intention of giving up its weapons but might be amenable to opening a burger restaurant in the capital Pyongyang.

This is among the pessimistic conclusions in a CIA report circulated to senior American officials earlier this month, according to NBC News which obtained details of its findings.

It leaked just as diplomats continue preparations for a possible June 12 meeting between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader.

Mr Trump has made clear he wants to pursue a meeting despite initially cancelling the plans last week amid widespread scepticism that Kim would give up a nuclear programme he has long insisted was essential for regime survival.

“Everybody knows they are not going to denuclearise,” an intelligence official, familiar with the report, told NBC.