
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson pledged to seek a new approach to deal with North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons, including the use of military power.
It was made known on Wednesday that Tillerson made the remarks in a report to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations before his confirmation as secretary of state.
Calling Pyongyang one of the gravest threats to international and regional security, he promised to work closely together with his "interagency colleagues to develop a new approach to proactively address the multitude of threats that North Korea poses."
Tillerson cited as threats the regime’s continued development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles capable of reaching the U.S. mainland, as well as its oppressive rule, human rights violations and persistent illicit activities.
He added that additional measures on Pyongyang, including secondary sanctions, are necessary to pressure the North Korean leadership and its supporters.