Concerns are rising that the DPRK could carry out missile launches or even nuclear tests when it celebrates the 85th anniversary of the Korean People's Army on April 25.

Meanwhile, military drills and deployment are taking place around the Korean Peninsula, heating up the situation. To the north, China is conducting training drills on the border, which the national defense ministry calls “routine.”

Also to the north, there are reports about Moscow moving troops and equipment closer to the DPRK border. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met his Russian counterpart to discuss the situation. The Kremlin said social media footage of troop movements in Russia's Far Eastern Military district are part of scheduled maneuvers.

To the south, South Korea and the United States continue annual military exercises that infuriate Pyongyang, and have in the past provoked threats and missile tests.

"Lots of strategic assets are also deployed to the Korean Peninsula because of our South Korea-US military drills,” said Lee Duk-haeng, South Korea's unification spokesman.

While cooperating with South Korea, the US has also sent extra air force assets to the region including a plane that can detect debris from a nuclear blast. Moreover, the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group is on its way to the Korean Peninsula. The group's commander posted on Facebook that his ships' deployment was extended to "provide a persistent presence" in Korean waters.

The White House plans to brief senators on its strategy to reduce DPRK nuclear tensions next week.