Defense Secretary James Mattis: Diplomatic Effort on North Korea 'Gaining Traction'

In a diplomatic win for the United States, the measures were approved unanimously - including by Russian Federation and China, the North's sole major ally.

A number of US allies, including Australia and Japan, have said that they're prepared to stand with Trump and will take military action against North Korea if Jong Un launches an attack against Guam, according to Fox News.

Mattis' comments come on the heels of North Korea's state media announcement Thursday that its military would devise a plan by mid-August to fire four intermediate range missiles at the US territory of Guam as a "crucial warning to the U.S". The U.S.is "dealing with the threat with an effective diplomatic effort", he said.

"My responsibility is to have military options should they be needed".

On Wednesday, North Korea threatened to conduct missile tests around Guam. "Let's see what he does with Guam", Trump said in apparent reference to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. "You see that keenly in various arguments", he said.

Mattis praised the efforts of United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley that resulted in a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning North Korea's actions.

Trump's remarks have prompted a reaction in China, where the state-controlled Global Times newspaper said in an editorial Friday that if North Korea launched missiles at the USA, it should "stay neutral", sending a warning to Pyongyang that Beijing would not support the regime if it made a first move.

"On the situation on the Korean peninsula obviously the Secretary General remains extremely concerned by the ongoing situation; he's troubled by the increase in confrontational rhetoric that we've seen", a spokesman for Guterres said.

"China should make clear that if North Korea launches missiles that threaten USA territories and triggers US retaliations, China will stay neutral".

The United States and South Korea remain technically still at war with North Korea after the 1950-53 Korean conflict ended with a truce, not a peace treaty. The country warned that the U.S. We call on the relevant parties to be cautious with their words and actions, and contribute more toward easing tensions and enhancing mutual trust, ' Geng said in a statement.

South Korean and US troops are also gearing up for an annual joint drill from August 21, called the Ulchi Freedom Guardian, in which up to 30,000 USA troops will take part.