THERE was barely any hint of a North Korean policy before he took the keys to the White House, and now that he's US president, Donald Trump's pointed words and actions towards the hermit state in recent weeks are unnerving regional powers.

Mr Trump ratcheted his rhetoric up a notch after recent US strikes in Syria and Afghanistan. Views of the missile strikes in Syria and dropping the "mother of all bombs" in Afghanistan have leaned slightly positive, with some comparing Mr Trump's decisiveness with his predecessor's measured, deliberating approach.

A case can be made that apart from mounting devastating but targeted attacks, first on Syria's military capabilities and then on a major stronghold of the Islamic State, Mr Trump also wanted to send a signal to the regime in Pyongyang that, if needed, the US will not hesitate to use the overwhelming firepower at its disposal.