US VP says 'the sword stands ready' against North Korea

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Since taking office, however, U.S. tensions with North Korea have soared amid a drumbeat of missile tests and fears Pyongyang may be readying a sixth nuclear test. "As the president says, it's time for them to behave", the vice president said on CNN's "New Day".

"If the USA is reckless enough to use military means it would mean from that very day, an all-out war".

Pence arrived in Tokyo from South Korea, where he assured leaders of an "iron-clad" alliance with the United States in the face of the reclusive North, which has conducted a series of missile and nuclear tests in defiance of U.N. sanctions.

The US and South Korea have activated the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence system, which is capable of intercepting incoming warheads from North Korea.

Kim In Ryong said at a news conference that "if the US dares opt for a military action", North Korea "is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the U.S".

The second of the two ICBMs was mounted on a North Korean-branded "Taekpaeksan" military truck which used tyres made by China-based Triangle Group, according to photos of the parade seen by Reuters.

While Defense Secretary Jim Mattis denounced North Korea's weapons test as he began a Mideast tour, Vice President Mike Pence offered support to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo amid a trip dominated by concerns about the rogue state's nuclear intentions.

"We are exploring a new range of diplomatic, security, and economic measures and all options are on the table", Gary Ross, a Pentagon spokesman, said.

Lt. General H.R. McMaster, Trump's National Security Advisor, responded strongly to the missile test in an interview with ABC: "This latest missile test just fits into a pattern of provocative and destabilizing and threatening behavior on the part of the North Korean regime, and I think there's an global consensus now - including the Chinese and the Chinese leadership - that this is a situation that just can't continue".

Growth is slowing in South Korea's economy, which is already facing a number of headwinds, including unofficial sanctions from China, political turmoil and a crisis in its shipping and shipbuilding industries.

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North Korea's deputy ambassador to the United Nations reiterated on the weekend that the North is ready to respond to any USA missile or nuclear strike.

A sales manager for a Sinotruck dealer, Zhongnanhai, said the company exports about 1,000 trucks to North Korea every year under contracts that specify the vehicles are designed and manufactured for civilian use.

"It's time for us to undertake all actions we can, short of a military option, to try to resolve this peacefully", he said on ABC's "This Week" program.

The Trump administration has signaled a more forceful US stance toward North Korea's recent missile tests and threats, including a warning from Trump that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has "gotta behave".

Japan had a $69 billion trade surplus with the United States a year ago, the U.S. Treasury Department said, expressing concern over what it called the "persistence" of the imbalance.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi: China ready to work "with all relevant countries".

North Korean state media has in the past released images of Sinotruk chassis and cabins in propaganda related to construction or mining.

Kim ignored questions about the North's relationship with China and reports that the government didn't respond to requests from Chinese officials for a meeting.

Trump has repeatedly discussed North Korea on Twitter in recent weeks, warning it against further missile testing and urging China to help control its unpredictable neighbor.

But Pence and Hwang said they were troubled by retaliatory economic moves by China against the deployment in South Korea of a US anti-missile system known as the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD). "It doesn't make any difference if it does or not - North Korea is a problem, the problem will be taken care of", Trump said.

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