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Mattis: US, N Korea situation firmly in 'diplomatic lane'

Wednesday, 07 February 2018 11:14 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 07 February 2018 11:14 PM ]

US Defense Secretary James Mattis speaks during the daily briefing in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House on February 7, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by AFP)

US Defense Secretary James Mattis has denied that the probability of war with North Korea has increased since Donald Trump took office.

"As far as the situation with Korea, it is firmly in the diplomatic lane," said Mattis while addressing reporters at the White House on Wednesday.

"We have seen much stronger diplomatic action," he said, citing a recent series of unanimously adopted UN Security Council resolutions aimed at pressuring Pyongyang.

Mattis' remarks came after US Vice President Mike Pence announced that Washington will soon unveil its "toughest sanctions ever" on North Korea.

PressTV-US VP announces 'toughest' sanctions on North Korea

US Vice President Mike Pence said Wednesday Washington would soon unveil its "toughest sanctions ever" on North Korea.

Trump's administration claims that it prefers a diplomatic solution to the crisis, but it also says all options are on the table, including military action.

Washington insists that any future talks should be aimed at North Korea giving up its nuclear weapons, something Pyongyang rejects.

The UN Security Council unanimously imposed new sanctions on North Korea in December following an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test, seeking to further limit its access to refined petroleum products and crude oil.

North Korea has been under a raft of crippling UN sanctions since 2006 over its nuclear tests as well as multiple rocket and missile launches. Pyongyang firmly defends its weapons programs as a deterrent against potential aggression by the US and its regional allies, including South Korea. The North says the regular joint war games by the US, South Korea, and Japan, are rehearsals for war, and has repeatedly urged Seoul and Tokyo to disengage from such drills.

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