Chinese President Xi Jinping ( L ) and US President Donald Trump ( Yonhap ) With its latest missile test , North Korea appears to be seeking to overshadow a summit between the leaders of the US and China , putting their relationship to a first , crucial test . Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are set to meet in Florida from Thursday , and how to deal with the North ’ s nuclear and missile programs is expected to take center stage . The timing could be particularly troubling for Xi , who would not want to be seen as protecting mercurial young leader Kim Jong - un in the face of mounting pressure from Washington . The Trump administration is currently carrying out a North Korea policy overhaul and has been signaling it plans to take a much tougher line . Ahead of the gathering , Trump has threatened to use trade to press Beijing to do more to restrain the North ’ s nuclear and missile development , or else resolve the issue on its own . On Tuesday , he once again pointed to the US ’ annual trade deficit with China amounting to $ 504 billion . US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has also floated the possibility of military action to counter the threats during his recent visit to Seoul , though its prospects remain bleak given risks of escalation and other difficulties . “ The US has spoken enough about North Korea . We have no further comment , ” he said in a statement shortly after the newest provocation . During a media briefing on the summit Tuesday , a senior White House official said , “ The clock has now run out and all options are on the table . ” Beijing , while vexed by its defiant neighbor ’ s relentless provocations , insists Washington should engage in dialogue and do its part to ease Pyongyang ’ s security concerns . In addition to dampening the mood for the leaders ’ first face - to - face encounter , the test will likely highlight differences between the two countries , officials and analysts say . “ I don ’ t expect the two presidents will come up with a compromise in one way or another during the summit , but the North Korea issue may mean a first test for the relationship between not only the two countries under Trump but the leaders themselves , ” a Seoul official said , requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter . Another official said , “ North Koreans are apparently trying to remind the world that its resolve for nuclear and missile development remains unfaltering and it will not change whatever the two leaders talk about . ” Kim Dong - yub , a professor at Kyungnam University ’ s Institute for Far Eastern Studies , echoed the view , saying it represents Pyongyang ’ s determination to “ go its own way . ” Speculation has been rising that the Kim regime may conduct another nuclear test or fire an intercontinental ballistic missile after the summit , partly to celebrate upcoming major national events , including the birth of founder Kim Il - sung , a ruling party assembly and the anniversary of the creation of its military . But even a larger - scale provocation would be unlikely to lead to a fresh bargain between Washington and Beijing or a sweeping change in either side ’ s policy , said David Straub , who formerly worked for the Korea Desk at the US State Department . Still , it may influence Trump ’ s personal impressions and prompt his administration to further pressure China to better enforce the existing sanctions and punish more Chinese businesses involved in transactions with North Korea , he noted . “ ( Possible US actions ) will include a significant amount of secondary sanctions on Chinese companies dealing with North Korea , especially if the meeting between Trump and Xi does not result in China taking a significantly different approach , ” Straub , who now works as a visiting fellow at the Sejong Institute here , said in a recent interview . “ I strongly doubt that it would fundamentally change the Chinese thinking . But if it makes Trump very upset and it makes the Chinese even unhappier , it ’ s possible it could have some significant impact on the future course of US policy and also Chinese policy . ” By Shin Hyon - hee ( heeshin @ heraldcorp . com ) [ 코리아 헤럴드 ] [ K - POP HERALD ] [ 페이스북 ] <ⓒ KoreaHerald ( www . koreaherald . com ) 무단 전재 및 재 배포 금지 >