US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Wednesday told North Korea it must stop any action that would "lead to the end of its regime" and "stand down" in its pursuit of nuclear weapons.
He also had a stern warning directly to the rogue nation's dictator, Kim Jong Un.
Mattis, who was traveling on the West Coast, released his statement after Trump continued to issue threats Wednesday morning.
"They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen", Trump said.
But the United States arsenal is unchanged since Trump took office, though a massive upgrade ordered past year by President Obama is underway, but still in the planning stages.
His comments come after the North Korean military threatened a missile strike near the US territory of Guam, in response to comments made by President Donald Trump and a Pentagon bomber operation in the region.
Aboard his plane, as he flew home from Asia, Tillerson insisted the developments didn't suggest the United States was moving closer to a military option for dealing with the crisis.
The defense secretary's comments follow Trump's warnings to North Korea.
Pirates are demanding millions of dollars for HBO
So consider us another budget for your advertisements!" "You only have 3 days to make a decision so decide wisely". It went on to say, " HBO spends 12 million for Market Research and 5 million for GOT7 advertisements.
"If the North Koreans were to strike Guam and kill a lot of Americans it would lead to a war which would destroy North Korea, so my guess is this is bluffing on both sides", he said. "In response to that, North Korea's rhetoric has ratcheted up", Tillerson said.
The former Marine Corps four-star general said the size and scope of the American military's arsenal, both in conventional and nuclear capabilities, will leave North Korea "grossly overmatched" should war break out between Pyongyang and the US on the peninsula.
China, which is North Korea's closest ally despite its anger at Pyongyang's missile and nuclear programs, described the situation as "complex and sensitive", and urged calm and a return to talks.
On Tuesday, Trump warned North Korea not to make any more threats against the United States.
Tillerson added that there were no new threats to the island territory. "You've got to be sure you can do what you say you're going to do", McCain said in a radio interview.
On July 28, North Korea launched its second intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which was the longest flight of a ballistic missile in the country's history, the Pentagon confirmed.
The South Korean capital, Seoul, is within range of massed North Korean rockets and artillery, which would be impossible to destroy in a first USA strike.
Comments