GETTY There are plans for the US to be 'more discreet' in their military approach to North Korea

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A senior member of the administration is reported to have said the US will be “more quiet” about drills with South Korea and Japan in a bid to defuse tensions with Kim Jong-un’s totalitarian regime. The decision from Trump’s top team follows fears that another North Korea missile test could be about to take place. The state has warned the US it has nuclear weapons powerful enough to hit mainland America.

The US President had previously suggested it was a “waste of time” negotiating with the hermit country but is believed to have reconsidered following the threat of the regime. Moscow is believed to have told the US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, that Washington’s “aggressive rhetoric” towards North Korea had intensified tensions, and was unacceptable. Russia has repeatedly called for talks to resolve the crisis, but this has been undermined by US president Donald Trump’s “fire and fury” rhetoric.

US and South Korea meet for winter drill on North Korea's doorstep Wed, December 20, 2017 The winter training exercise originally was designed to prepare for possible North Korea attacks and is annually held by soldiers of South Korea's and the U.S. Marine Corps Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 12 A South Korean Marine aims his rifle on a snowy hill during a joint winter drill with US Marines in Pyeongchang

Plans for the US to change its approach come just weeks after the US and South Korea said that they were considering suspending joint military drills in 2018 due to concerns that they may lead to action from North Korea. The drills, called Key Resolve and Foal Eagle, are used as an exercise to prepare for a North Korea invasion, are due to take place between February 9 and 25. There are concerns that the joint exercises could cause Kim Jong-un to launch a nuclear missile aimed at the South, who are hosting the Winter Olympics between 9 and 19 of February.

The South’s Unification Minister, Cho Myoung-gyon, has expressed cautious optimism that the suspension of the drills could be used as an opportunity to reduce the tensions on the border and open up talks. He said: “It is quite cautious to give projections, but there is a possibility that North Korea will focus on negotiations next year.” In recent months Kim Jong-un has taken part in a war of words over the development of nuclear weapons by Pyongyang.

GETTY US and South korean troops take part in winter drills preparing for North Korea attack

GETTY Trump addressed the South Korean Assembly warning he had forces ready for a North Korea provocation