The US Central Intelligence Agency Chief Mike Pompeo was recently reported saying that North Korea is moving at an "ever-alarming rate" with its weapons programme. But he also added that nuclear war between Washington and Pyongyang is not imminent. This comes on the back of a ‘war of words’ between U.S. President Donald Trump and his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong Un. Today we ask if there a domestic agenda that is shaping Washington’s response or if it is essentially reacting to Pyongyang’s provocations? We also explore a report in China’s Global Times newspaper that China won’t come to North Korea’s aid if it launches missiles threatening the U.S. soil and there is retaliation but it would intervene if Washington strikes first.