U.S. intelligence has assessed North Korea could be preparing to carry out its first weapons test since President Joe Biden came into office, according to CNN.

Quoting U.S. officials speaking on condition of anonymity, CNN reported Tuesday that officials are on alert as the U.S. and South Korea conduct scaled-down military exercises, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin are in Asia.

Earlier on Tuesday, Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, issued a statement to lambast the allies' joint drills, before warning the Biden administration against "causing a stink at its first step." 

One senior U.S. official said Pyongyang might decide whether to go through with a test after seeing what comes out of Blinken and Austin's meetings in Japan and South Korea.

CNN said observers believe that if the North carries out a test while both secretaries are in Asia, it would send a pointed message to Biden that Kim wants to ensure he is seen as a key player in the region.