A U.S. expert on Korean affairs says Washington believes the North Korean threat is increasing.

Victor Cha, who holds the Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, said Wednesday that Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to the U.S. will help Washington and Beijing move closer to solving the North Korea issue.

The Georgetown University professor says Obama and Hu will discuss a range of issues, the most important of which Cha says will be North Korea. He said he expects the two sides will narrow related stances.

He says the U.S. will also most likely convey to China that Washington views Pyongyang as an increasing threat to U.S. allies in the region and as a direct threat to U.S. security.