North Korea will provoke the United States in just four days' time - on Oct. 9, warned top CIA Korean Affairs official Yong Suk Lee yesterday (Oct. 5). U.S. News relayed the operative's cautionary statement earlier today.
Lee's prediction is based in part on a convergence of holidays that takes place on Oct. 9 - Columbus Day in the United States and Party Foundation Day in North Korea.
Technically, the Hermit Regime's Party Foundation Day occurs annually on Oct. 10 and marks the anniversary of the formation of North Korea's governing Workers' Party in 1945.
But the two holidays partially overlap because North Korea operates 12 hours and 30 minutes ahead of the United States. So, a portion of Oct. 10 in the regime falls on Oct. 9 in the States.
Lee's prediction was likewise based on an aggression pattern that North Korea regularly exhibits...
North Korea Has a Habit of Blowing Things Up on Holidays
Historically, Pyongyang has carried out provocations in the form of missile launches on holidays in order to draw attention to that date and to make a point. This pattern doesn't necessarily pertain to North Korea-only holidays... though it does sometimes.
For example, on Sept. 9, 2015, North Korea marked the anniversary of the country's founding with an underground nuclear test that it later claimed to have built as protection against "threats and sanctions," The Washington Post reported that day.
And on July 4 of this year - America's Independence Day - North Korea launched, for the first time ever, a two-stage intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). This provocation in particular rattled the United States as it demonstrated the regime had recently made major strides in advanced weapons manufacturing.
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This pattern makes Lee's Oct. 9 prediction all the more worrisome. The double holiday provides dictator Kim Jong Un twice the opportunity for his recently subdued regime to exert its nuclear ambitions once again.
There is, however, one late-developing buffer that could possibly keep North Korean aggression at bay...
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China's Recent Cooperation with the U.S.
On Sept. 28, China issued what was largely considered its most punitive mandate yet on its heavily dependent neighbor country.
Specifically, Beijing called for the closure of all joint North Korea-China business ventures that day and added textiles to an already long list of banned export goods that includes coal, iron ore, and seafood.
This move on China's part was also regarded as an indication that the country is attempting to align itself with the United States - at least temporarily.
That's because President Donald Trump will soon come a-calling...
On Nov. 3, Trump will start an 11-day trip to Asia where he's expected to meet with President Xi Jinping.
China's acquiescence to the UN's Sept. 11 sanctions on North Korea, coupled with the country's own orders on Sept. 28, has kept Beijing in Trump's good graces lately.
On Sept. 22, for example, Trump commended China's efforts in following through on sanctions by limiting financial institution transactions between itself and Pyongyang by saying, "I want to just say and thank President Xi of China for the very bold move he made today. That was a somewhat unexpected move, and we appreciate it."
If Kim Jong Un provokes either country in the meantime, however, Trump's current "China-positive" disposition could quickly change.
And a well-timed disruption of U.S.-China relations could bring our current bull market to an ugly end.
Up Next: Rare Gold Anomaly
Money Morning Executive Editor Bill Patalon just caught something on his gold charts that he's only seen twice in the past 20 years. A $13 billion gold anomaly he calls the "Halley's Comet of investing."
It's very rare, and fleeting, and Bill sees things lining up perfectly to bring some very sizeable precious metal profits to well-positioned investors.
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