McMaster: North Korea's provocations 'can't continue'

Pence has told reporters near the Demilitarized Zone separating North and South Korea the USA has lost patience with the unwillingness of the North Korean regime to move toward ridding itself of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.

South Korea, which accuses China or discriminating against some South Korean companies working in China, and the United States say the sole goal of THAAD is to guard against North Korean missiles.

"But the era of strategic patience is over", he declared.

McMaster said President Donald Trump has made clear he will not allow the nuclear-armed Pyongyang regime to put the USA and its regional allies, led by South Korea and Japan, under threat.

US President Donald Trump has previously stated that if allies surrounding North Korea do not act to end North Korea's military program, the US will do it alone.

Mr Pence, who called the failed missile launch "a provocation", arrived at Camp Bonifas on Monday morning for a briefing with military leaders and to meet American troops stationed there.

On Sunday, North Korea defied warnings against further provocations by conducting its latest missile test.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is seen in silhouette as he waves during a military parade on Saturday, April 15, 2017, in Pyongyang, North Korea to celebrate the 105th birth anniversary of Kim Il Sung, the country's late founder and grandfather of current ruler Kim Jong Un. During a fellowship meal after the services, he said the tensions on the Korean peninsula had put into sharp focus the importance of the joint U.S. The U.S. moves an vast warship to the waters off the peninsula in a display of military might. "We want to see North Korea abandon its reckless path of the development of nuclear weapons, and also its continual use and testing of ballistic missiles is unacceptable".

US officials told CNN they did not believe the missile had intercontinental capabilities, and blew up nearly immediately after launch.

Pence said that under Trump's leadership, "our resolve has never been stronger, our commitment to this historic alliance with the courageous people of South Korea has never been stronger and with your help and God's help, freedom will ever prevail on this peninsula". North Korea's recent actions have been very provocative and the situation has gotten tense very quick, with some even suggesting the possibility of World War 3 breaking out.

"The president has made clear that he will not accept the United States and its allies and partners in the region being under threat from this hostile regime with nuclear weapons".

United States national security adviser General H.R. McMaster called North Korean dictator's Kim Jong-un's behaviour "provocative and destabilising and threatening". The administration's immediate emphasis, the officials said, will be on increasing pressure on Pyongyang with the help of Beijing.

"We don't have to make the country bleed, but we'd better make it hurt", China's Global Times newspaper warned in response to THAAD, which is seen as a threat to China's national security. China's customs department issued an order on April 7 telling traders to return North Korean coal cargoes, trading sources said.

South Korea has already suffered economic damage over the Korean tensions, due to China's economic response to its move to install the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system.

The White House foreign policy adviser traveling with Pence told reporters that the type of missile that North Korea tried to fire on Sunday was medium-range, and that it exploded about 4 to 5 seconds after it was launched.

Pyongyang has conducted several missile and nuclear tests in defiance of UN sanctions, and regularly threatens to destroy South Korea and the United States.

According to the White House adviser, the test had been expected and the USA had good intelligence both before and after the launch.