Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, left, accompanied by Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford, right, speaks to members of the media outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington, Sunday, Sept. 3, 2017
TOKYO (AP) Sept, 3, 2017-- U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is responding to North Korea's latest nuclear test by saying threats to the United States and its allies 'will be met with a massive military response.'
Mattis spoke at the White House on Sunday following a meeting with President Donald Trump and national security advisers. He says any response will be 'both effective and overwhelming.'
Mattis says the United States is 'not looking to the total annihilation' of North Korea, but added 'we have many options to do so.'
North Korea claimed 'perfect success' in an underground test of what it called a hydrogen bomb - potentially vastly more destructive than an atomic bomb. It was the North's sixth nuclear test since 2006, but the first since Trump took office in January.
Mattis spoke at the White House on Sunday following a meeting with President Donald Trump and national security advisers. He says any response will be 'both effective and overwhelming.'
Mattis says the United States is 'not looking to the total annihilation' of North Korea, but added 'we have many options to do so.'
North Korea claimed 'perfect success' in an underground test of what it called a hydrogen bomb - potentially vastly more destructive than an atomic bomb. It was the North's sixth nuclear test since 2006, but the first since Trump took office in January.
The president of the European Commission says North Korea's latest nuclear test compels the international community to unite in swift and decisive reaction.
Donald Tusk said the European Union stands ready to sharpen its policy of sanctions and invites North Korea to restart dialogue on its nuclear and missile programs without condition.
In Sunday's statement, Tusk said the EU calls on the U.N. Security Council 'to adopt further U.N. sanctions and show stronger resolve to achieve a peaceful denuclearization of the Korean peninsula,' adding, 'The stakes are getting too high.'
He said North Korea must abandon its nuclear weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs in a verifiable and irreversible manner and it must cease all related activities at once.
Donald Tusk said the European Union stands ready to sharpen its policy of sanctions and invites North Korea to restart dialogue on its nuclear and missile programs without condition.
In Sunday's statement, Tusk said the EU calls on the U.N. Security Council 'to adopt further U.N. sanctions and show stronger resolve to achieve a peaceful denuclearization of the Korean peninsula,' adding, 'The stakes are getting too high.'
He said North Korea must abandon its nuclear weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs in a verifiable and irreversible manner and it must cease all related activities at once.
Turkey has strongly condemned the latest North Korean nuclear test.
In a statement published Sunday, Turkey's foreign ministry said the test was 'irresponsible and provocative,' while ignoring international law and endangering regional peace and security.
Turkish troops were part of a United Nations command aiding South Korea during the Korean War between 1950 and 1953. More than 700 soldiers died in the battles.
In a statement published Sunday, Turkey's foreign ministry said the test was 'irresponsible and provocative,' while ignoring international law and endangering regional peace and security.
Turkish troops were part of a United Nations command aiding South Korea during the Korean War between 1950 and 1953. More than 700 soldiers died in the battles.
President Donald Trump says the United States is considering halting trade with 'any country doing business with North Korea.'
Trump said on Twitter Sunday that the approach was under consideration, 'in addition to other options,' after North Korea detonated a thermonuclear device in its sixth and most powerful nuclear test.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Sunday that he was putting together new sanctions seeking to cut off trade with North Korea. On 'Fox News Sunday,' Mnuchin described Pyongyang's behavior as 'completely unacceptable.'
Trump is meeting with his national security team Sunday afternoon to discuss North Korea.
The president was asked if he would attack North Korea as he left a church service Sunday. He said: 'We'll see.'
Trump said on Twitter Sunday that the approach was under consideration, 'in addition to other options,' after North Korea detonated a thermonuclear device in its sixth and most powerful nuclear test.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Sunday that he was putting together new sanctions seeking to cut off trade with North Korea. On 'Fox News Sunday,' Mnuchin described Pyongyang's behavior as 'completely unacceptable.'
Trump is meeting with his national security team Sunday afternoon to discuss North Korea.
The president was asked if he would attack North Korea as he left a church service Sunday. He said: 'We'll see.'
Russian President Vladimir Putin has spoken by telephone with Japanese leader Shinzo Abe and urged restraint in responding to North Korea's claim to have set off a hydrogen bomb test.
Putin, in China for a meeting of leaders of the BRICS economic bloc, called Abe on Sunday.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists that Putin 'said the international community could not give in to emotions, should act calmly and deliberately, and stressed that the complex settlement of the nuclear and other problems of the Korean Peninsula can be achieved exclusively through political and diplomatic means.'
Putin, in China for a meeting of leaders of the BRICS economic bloc, called Abe on Sunday.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists that Putin 'said the international community could not give in to emotions, should act calmly and deliberately, and stressed that the complex settlement of the nuclear and other problems of the Korean Peninsula can be achieved exclusively through political and diplomatic means.'
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