Kim Jong-un condemns USA strike in Syria

Noting Trump's recent military actions in Syria and Afghanistan, Pence said, "North Korea would do well not to test his resolve", or the United States armed forces in the region.

"After the Korean War in 1958 we installed hundreds of nuclear weapons in the south, [we were] the first country to bring nuclear weapons to the peninsula", Cumings noted, adding that "President Obama threatened North Korea with nuclear weapons many times, by flying B-2 bombers over the South, dumping dummy bombs on islands, and so on".

Kim said the DPRK's policy is shaped by the Trump administration's push for "high intensity sanctions" against the country, deploying tactical nuclear weapons in South Korea and launching military action aimed at "beheading" the North's leadership headed by Kim Jong Un.

North Korea Deputy United Nations Ambassador Kim In Ryong speaks during a news briefing, Monday, April 17, 2017, at U.N. headquarters. But he's certainly ratcheting up the pressure on the North Koreans.

Observers have said North Korea may conduct a sixth nuclear test soon, with activity reported at nuclear facilities, according to the website 38 North. North Korea held a parade the day before the launch in an attempt to show off new missiles created to reach the United States.

March 1, 2017: South Korea and the USA held a military exercise - "Foal Eagle"- together.

Tensions have escalated over North Korean moves to accelerate its weapons development.

In other words, it could be years, if not decades, before Pyongyang may be capable of launching a nuclear missile at a USA target.

South Korea's foreign ministry said that by conducting the latest test just a day after displaying a series of missiles, "North Korea has threatened the whole world".

"North Korea would do well not to test his resolve - or the strength of the armed forces of the United States in this region", the vice president warned.

For Pence's part, he said "peaceable means" - including negotiations - are still ideal, but that "all options are on the table".

The Trump administration has said that military action remains an option for dealing with North Korea.

A top White House foreign policy adviser on Sunday became the latest Trump official to warn that while diplomatic pressure was preferable, USA military action is very much on the table. Trump tweeted. "We will see what happens!"

Pence told reporters that Trump was hopeful China would use its "extraordinary levers" to pressure the North to abandon its weapons program, a day after the North's failed missile test launch. But that's especially true when military action is being considered or already underway.

But Whitehall has apparently urged caution over preemptive strikes, saying the world could face a catastrophic reaction if the United States failed to wipe out Kim's arsenal in one foul swoop.

In his statement, Hwang warned that the allies will take "strong punitive measures" in case of Pyongyang's additional provocations, and that they will redouble efforts to change the North's "strategic calculus" on its nuke program through an exhaustive enforcement of global sanctions.

"It is heartening to see China commit to these actions".

Here's a quick recap of how team Trump has dealt with the standoff with North Korea - a country that has long desired to become a legitimate nuclear power - in the past few days.

Susan Thornton, acting USA assistant secretary of state for East Asia, said Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and China's top diplomat, State Councilor Yang Jiechi, agreed in a phone call on Sunday on the need for strict enforcement of United Nations resolutions and for worldwide action to press Pyongyang "to cease provocative actions and recommit to peaceful denuclearization".

In February, China announced it was halting all imports of coal from North Korea - a crucial earner for Pyongyang - for the rest of the year.