9 August 2017, 10:24 GMT
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — North Korea does not pose an immediate threat to the United States, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in an interview on Wednesday.
"I think the president just wanted to be clear to the North Korean regime on the United States’ unquestionable ability to defend itself, will defend itself and its allies," Tillerson told CNN aboard a plane on his way to Guam. "I do not believe there is any imminent threat in my own view."
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump warned North Korea not to make any more threats against the United States or Pyongyang will face "fire and fury" like the world has never seen.
North Korea announced earlier on Wednesday it was considering ballistic missile strikes near the western Pacific island of Guam where several US military bases are located.
Trump’s statement came as media reported the US intelligence has assessed that North Korea has produced a miniaturized nuclear warhead.
North Korea has carried out five nuclear weapons tests, with the latest on September 9, 2016.
