US making plans 'to occupy North Korea after war’: reports

As tensions with North Korea continue to escalate, it’s been reported the US could move in and occupy the rogue nation should all-out war erupt.

Al-Monitor journalist Laura Rozen claims President Donald Trump and the US are “quietly preparing studies on the aftermath of war with North Korea”, drawing on lessons from its past occupation of Iraq.

“There’s a lot of interest in studies on how to defeat insurgencies led by former regime types armed with chemical and biological agents," she said.

Ms Rozen, during a series of think tank discussions, said the government had been “dusting off the books from pre-Iraq War days".

There are fresh claims the US would occupy North Korea should nuclear tensions cultivate into all-out war. Source: Getty

On that basis it is understood President Trump’s advisers are concerned that an insurgency would drain the US forces for years to come.

Meanwhile a Japanese pro-wrestler turned lawmaker has urged nations to dial down the tension after the isolated country fired a missile over northern Japan last month.

Tokyo could play a role in mediating with its neighbour, said the 74-year-old Antonio Inoki, who is known for fighting boxer Muhammad Ali four decades ago.

Al-Monitor journalist Laura Rozen claims President Donald Trump and the US are “quietly preparing studies on the aftermath of war with North Korea”. Source: Twitter

"We are seeing a situation where each raises his fist and the situation is escalating," Inoki said.

"It's important to see who can be the first to lower his fist and reduce the tension," said Inoki, who, like US basketball star Dennis Rodman, has made numerous visits to North Korea."

Pyongyang must commit to denuclearization as a prerequisite for talks, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said in an interview with the Nikkei business daily published on Wednesday.

On Monday, the UN Security Council voted to tighten sanctions on the North over its sixth nuclear test.