Prepared militarily, will act if North Korea launches missile: US

WASHINGTON: The US has warned North Korea that it was prepared to meet any eventuality and will take "immediate specific actions" if Pyongyang launches a missile attack against it or its allies. 

The US' strong assertion comes days after President Donald Trump pledged to answer further aggression from North Korea with "fire and fury". 

Speaking at a news conference jointly addressed by US Defence Secretary James Mattis, Japanese Foreign minister Taro Kono and Defence minister Itsunori Onodera, Tillerson said the country was prepared to meet any eventuality from the North Koreans, and sought to make it clear that use of the force was not the "preferred pathway" of the US. 

"We are prepared, we are prepared militarily, we are prepared with our allies to respond, if that is necessary. That (military) is not our preferred pathway. That's been made clear as well," he said .. 

Defence Secretary Mattis said that the US would take immediate specific actions in the event of a missile launch towards US or its allies.