President Donald Trump promised Tuesday an unprecedented military response to North Korea should Pyongyang continue to threaten the U.S.
"North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States. They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen," Trump said from his golf club in New Jersey.
"They will be met with fire, fury and frankly power the likes of which this world has never seen before," he added.
The comments follow a series of media reports that claim U.S. intelligence agencies have assessed North Korea is able to miniaturize a nuclear warhead capable of being placed on a ballistic missile.
The Washington Post newspaper reported the determination came from the Defense Intelligence Agency, that said it is currently unknown if Pyongyang has tested the capability.
Last month North Korean tested two intercontinental ballistic missiles, at least one of which experts believe could reach deep into the continental U.S.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Trump vowed Monday to increase pressure on the North for its weapons programs shortly after the UN Security Council ratcheted up economic sanctions on the country.
Pyongyang insisted earlier this week strengthened sanctions would not force it to give up its nuclear program.
“We are ready to respond with far bigger actions to make the U.S. pay,” the government said in a statement that warned of a “stern action of justice” and seemed to dismiss any hope of dialogue, even in the face of sanctions that could cut the North’s export revenue from $3 billion to $2 billion.