A senior U.S. administration official says Washington has been assessing military options on North Korea ahead of Vice President Mike Pence's visit to South Korea.

The official said Pence will discuss those options with U.S. Forces Korea Commander General Vincent Brooks during his three-day stay from Sunday.

Pence will meet Acting South Korean President Hwang Kyo-ahn and National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun as well. 

The official said regarding security, Pence will stress Seoul is the "linchpin of peace and prosperity" and that President Donald Trump takes national security as a top priority.

The official said Pence's message will also be about Washington's ironclad commitment to all its allies in the Asia-Pacific, adding the U.S. takes their defense very seriously.

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