Trump, defense officials discuss NK options

WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump met with top defense officials Tuesday to discuss a "range of options" to handle North Korea's nuclear threat, the White House said.

Trump received a briefing from Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Joe Dunford, according to a statement by White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
 

"The briefing and discussion focused on a range of options to respond to any form of North Korean aggression or, if necessary, to prevent North Korea from threatening the United States and its allies with nuclear weapons," she said.

Trump has increasingly hinted at using military options to counter the threat of North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

On Saturday, he dismissed past nuclear agreements with the regime, saying "only one thing will work."

Tensions have run high with North Korea firing a series of ballistic missiles, and conducting its sixth and most powerful nuclear test in recent weeks. (Yonhap)