MORE WINNING: US officials bracing for imminent North Korea test of intercontinental ballistic missile

U.S. military and intelligence officials are reportedly bracing for an imminent test by North Korea of an intercontinental missile as negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang continue to stall.

North Korea has threatened to give the U.S. a “Christmas gift” if no progress is made on lifting sanctions, but officials appear to accept the fact that President Trump has no options to prevent a test.

The North testing a ballistic missile capable of reaching the U.S. would mark a major setback for Trump's efforts to rein in Pyongyang's nuclear and missile ambitions, something he has touted as a top foreign policy initiative. It would also come as the president faces major political fallout domestically after the House voted to impeach him this week.

While the president often cites a lull in such testing by North Korea as evidence of his diplomatic prowess, officials said that should North Korean leader Kim Jong Un resume testing, it would mark a sign that the White House is jammed in its options and will be less inclined to lift sanctions.

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