"We have a high level of confidence that they have made preparations. We believe that they could do this ... I can't tell you 'we think it will be this day for the following reasons', because we just don't have that level of knowledge," a senior administration official in Washington was cited as saying.
"We do think that [North Korea] are making calculations about the degree of receptivity for others in the region, I think, particularly Russia and China. And I think that the Russian and Chinese attitudes do have influence with them," the unnamed Washington official added.
'Reciprocal Steps Needed'
"China is closely following the developments of the Korean Peninsula situation... We hope relevant parties can keep to the direction of seeking political settlement, meet each other halfway, and avoid escalation," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Wednesday at a regular press conference.