The risks for severe North Korea miscalculation are currently high, a U.S. based policy consultant said Sunday in an interview with NK News, with subsequent potential for unintended escalation in the event of even highly limited military conflict.

The remarks from Dr. Kevin Shepard, Ph.D., a U.S. based policy consultant with years of experience working on North Korea issues, come amid growing concerns about what might happen following any pending North Korean long distance missile test, an event many watchers have been anticipating for several months.

“(I) think we are at a unique situation where desire for conflict is at