Donald Trump has warned North Korea is “looking for trouble” after the country declared it was “ready for war”.
The US President ramped up his war of words with the secretive state via Twitter as America woke up this morning.
North Korea was angered when a US Navy strike group, including the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier, diverted towards the Korean peninsula amid high tension.
A government statement to North Korea’s state-controlled news agency overnight said: “This goes to prove that the US reckless moves for invading the DPRK have reached a serious phase.
“The DPRK is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the US.”
This morning the President kept up the pressure – saying he would “solve the North Korean problem” and urging China to take his side to win better trade with the US.
Trump, who held talks in Florida with the Chinese premier last week, tweeted: “I explained to the President of China that a trade deal with the US will be far better for them if they solve the North Korean problem!
“North Korea is looking for trouble.
“If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them!”
The billionaire tycoon signed off: “U.S.A.”
One of the advisers, Lieutenant General H. R. McMaster, told Fox News: “It’s prudent to do it, isn’t it?
“Presidents before and President Trump agreed that that is unacceptable, that what must happen is the denuclearization of the peninsula.
“The president has asked [us] to be prepared to give us a full range of options to remove that threat.”
South Korea’s defence ministry played down the possibility of a strike, urging people not to get “blinded by exaggerated assessment about the security situation”.
However, acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn did say there could be “greater provocations” by North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-Un – including a potential nuclear test.
He ordered the military to intensify monitoring and to ensure close communication with the United States.
