U.S. Vice President Mike Pence has vowed to keep strong pressure on North Korea until it abandons its nuclear and ballistic missile programs "once and for all."

Speaking at the Wilson Center in Washington on Thursday, Pence said the U.S. will continue to work diligently with its allies across the region, China and around the world to "bring increased economic and diplomatic pressure to bear on North Korea."

He said their primary focus is on the North Korea regime, calling it the greatest threat to security in the Asia Pacific.  

The vice president said American hearts broke with the news of Otto Warmbier's death shortly after returning to his family following over 17 months of brutal incarceration in the North.

He said Pyongyang's treatment of Warmbier was a disgrace, and assured that it only deepens U.S. determination to prevent such tragedies from happening to other innocent people.

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