A day after North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister said Pyongyang would test missiles weekly and use nuclear weapons if threatened, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said Beijing was "gravely concerned" about North Korea's recent nuclear and missile activities.
The new administration has repeatedly said that it is seriously anxious about North Korea's efforts to develop a nuclear-tipped missile that could hit the USA mainland.
The war of words between North Korea and the United States continues to ratchet up.
US Vice President Mike Pence reassured Japan of American commitment to reining in North Korea's nuclear and missile ambitions on Tuesday, after warning that US strikes in Syria and Afghanistan showed the strength of its resolve. His national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, said the USA would rely on its allies as well as Chinese leadership to resolve the issues with North Korea.
But, mindful that this would likely trigger massive retaliation and casualties in South Korea and Japan, US officials say the Trump administration's main focus is on tougher economic sanctions.
As part of a broader National Security Council review of options for dealing with North Korea, the Pentagon has been considering its military options for more than a month in case the White House were to decide to take such action, a defense official said.
Asked by a reporter what message he had for North Korea's young leader Kim Jong-Un on Monday, Trump replied "Gotta behave".
Pence's statement came just two days after the North Korean government conducted a huge display of prototype intercontinental ballistic missiles during a military parade observing the 105th anniversary of the birthday of the communist state's late founding leader and "eternal president" Kim Il-sung in the capital Pyongyang on April 15.
The US has also diverted a US Navy strike group towards the Korean Peninsula as a show of force shortly before the missile strike.
US sought to monitor Trump adviser Carter Page last summer
The campaign began distancing itself from Page after his trip to Russian Federation , saying he was only an informal adviser. The newspaper said the application includes contacts Page had with a Russian intelligence operative in 2013.
Later Monday, Pence reiterated in a joint statement alongside South Korean Acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn that "all options are on the table" to deal with threat and said any use of nuclear weapons by Pyongyang would be met with "an overwhelming and effective response".
The U.S. vice president also echoed the sentiments of his boss, President Donald Trump, in his remarks on jobs and trade.
"It's necessary to put pressure on North Korea so that it will accept dialogue in good faith", Mr Abe said.
During a press conference in the demilitarized zone (DMZ), the area dividing the two Koreas, during a visit to South Korea to reaffirm ties, Pence hoped to achieve North's denuclearization through peaceful means.
"China is committed to denuclearising the Korean Peninsula, maintaining peace and stability there, and resolving problems through dialogue and consultation".
It banned imports of North Korean coal on February 26, cutting off its most important export and Chinese media has raised the possibility of restricting oil shipments to North Korea if it unleashed more provocations.
North Korea stepped up its rhetoric on Thursday, threatening the United States and its allies with a "super mighty pre-emptive strike" and telling them: "don't mess with us".
China's exports to North Korea rose more than 54 per cent as Pyongyang became more reliant on its ally for daily necessities and imports rose by 18 per cent. These near neighbours of North Korea have been living with their annoying neighbour for six decades, since the armistice that stopped the Korean War.
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