Embattled on the domestic front about his ties to Russia, U.S. president Donald Trump this month will finally get to prove his foreign policy mettle when North Korea detonates its sixth nuclear weapon later this month.

There is still no clear indication what the policy of the distracted U.S. president is as regards to stopping North Korea's nuclear weapons program. That lack of firm guidance will manifest itself in how Trump and his novice foreign policy team respond to the upcoming North Korean nuclear blast.

All signs point to North Korea going ahead with its long-delayed project to explode its sixth nuclear weapon this month, said Prof. Liu Ming, Executive Director of the Institute of International Relations at Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences (SASS).

Founded in 1958, SASS is China's oldest institution for the humanities and social sciences. It is the country's second largest such institution after the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) in Beijing.

Prof. Liu pointed out that North Korea launched several missiles in April but all these missiles failed.

"There was no nuclear test in April but it does not mean that North Korea will not conduct one in May," he said.

"I believe there is a strong possibility that the country will hold the next nuclear test this month."

Prof. Liu also believes the heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula will remain in May and June.

"North Korea is playing for time choosing the right moment, because all the preparations for the sixth nuclear test have been completed."

North Korea's intention of detonating this nuclear weapon soon was made clear by that country's new ambassador to the United Kingdom, Choe Il, in a statement made today.

Amb. Choe reaffirmed North Korea's right to maintain and develop nuclear weapons as a deterrent to foreign invasion. He said another nuclear test will be conducted on leader Kim Jong Un's terms regardless of U.S. pressure.

Prof. Liu said there will be grave consequences for North Korea if it does explode another nuclear weapon.

"I think, after the sixth nuclear test, the window of possibilities to solve the North Korea issue will almost completely close," he noted.

"Only a few chances will remain to solve the issue using diplomatic methods."

Apart from making a war against the U.S. more likely, this test will seriously strain North Korea's already damaged ties with China. Prof. Liu said that "if Pyongyang conducts another nuclear test, then China will have to reduce its economic aid to North Korea."