US officials say North Korea may be planning military action to create chaos ahead of US election, report says

US officials fear North Korean military action ahead of the US election, NBC News reported.

Senior officials told the outlet that such a move could be encouraged by Vladimir Putin.

North Korea and Russia have formed close military ties in recent years.

Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read preview Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . You can opt-out at any time by visiting our Preferences page or by clicking "unsubscribe" at the bottom of the email.

US officials are preparing for potential North Korean military action — possibly encouraged by Russian President Vladimir Putin — in the run-up to the US election in November, NBC News reported, citing six senior US officials.

Such a move could be designed to create chaos in another part of the world as the election process ramps up, they said.

"We have no doubt that North Korea will be provocative this year. It's just a matter of how escalatory it is," one US intelligence official added.

This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Log in .