The U.S. defense chief says Washington is trying to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue through diplomatic means in order to avoid a “catastrophic war” on the Korean Peninsula.
 
U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis relayed the position at a hearing of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense on Thursday.
 
While suggesting that the U.S. would prevail in a war with the North, Mattis said it would be a war more serious in terms of human suffering than anything seen since the Korean War.

Noting a war would involve a massive shelling of densely populated Seoul, Mattis said President Donald Trump has directed one of his highest priority efforts to resolving the issue diplomatically
 
Mattis emphasized the U.S. is exhausting all possible diplomatic efforts for a war not to occur in the region, including pressing Beijing for help.
 
He said the U.S. is working through China to ensure that China understands that North Korea is a strategic burden for them, not a strategic asset, adding China has actually responded positively in some ways.

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