Fears are growing North Korea is plotting to ‘nuke’ US Presidential election
Top political think tank believes rogue state is planning something big in run up to polling day
FEARS are mounting trigger-happy North Korea is planning 'something big' to grab the world's attention during the US Presidential election.
The rogue state has shown a pattern of provoking America during previous White House elections, a top think tank has revealed today.
The US-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) conducted research which revealed a pattern between US elections and outrageous actions by North Korea.
The CSIS say the pattern could mean that the communist country is likely to do something imminently - with satellite images showing increased activity at the country's nuclear missile sites.
It's now feared Kim Jong-un may order his military leaders to carry out another nuclear blast or even launch a long-range rocket provoking international outrage and grabbing the attention away from Clinton and Trump.
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A spokesperson for CSIS: "This pattern suggests a provocation as early as one month before the US presidential election in the first week of October... or during the transition period for the next administration [which starts in December]."
The think tank revealed there have been three instances when North Korea had met a US election with an 'event' on the same day.
Tensions have been mounting between North Korea and the US since it carried out its fifth and largest nuclear test in September.
Experts now fear election time could be the perfect time for another nuclear test or a even launch of a long-range missile, reports the .
Last month, Kim's government warned if the Obama administration continued to pursue sanctions the US would be inviting a "merciless nuclear strike which will lead them to a final ruin".
"The people of the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) are now burning with hatred for the sworn enemies," a spokesperson for the Korea Asia-Pacific Peace Committee in Pyongyang said.
"The DPRK is fully ready to mercilessly strike brutal provocateurs keen on sanctions... and wipe them out to the last man any moment."
Relations between the US and Russia are also at their lowest since the Cold War amid reports that Vladimir Putin has ordered top officials and their families to return to the 'motherland' as 'he prepares for war'.