US threatens to 'totally destroy' North Korean regime

In an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, the ambassador said that the missile is a provocation that leaves the world 'closer to the war'

The United States warned that North Korea's leadership would be "utterly destroyed" in the event of a war after Pyongyang tested its most advanced missile , placing the continental United States within reach of its nuclear weapons and violating Security Council resolutions of the United Nations ( UN ).

The administration of US President Donald Trump has been saying he is considering all options to deal with North Korean nuclear weapons and ballistic programs, including the military, but prefers the diplomatic option.

Speaking at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, US ambassador Nikki Haley said her country had never sought the war with North Korea.

"If war does come, it will be because of the continuous acts of aggression like we witnessed yesterday," he said. "... and if the war comes, make no mistake, the North Korean regime will be utterly destroyed."

Haley said Washington had called on China to halt the supply of oil to North Korea, a drastic measure that Beijing , Pyongyang's only neighbor and major trading partner, has avoided adopting so far. Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping talked by telephone earlier Wednesday.

"I just spoke to President Xi Jinping of China about the provocations of North Korea. Additional sanctions will be imposed on North Korea today. This situation will be solved! "Trump wrote on Twitter.

Earlier US governments were unable to prevent North Korea from developing nuclear weapons and a sophisticated missile program. Trump, who has already said that the United States would "totally destroy" North Korea if necessary to protect itself and its allies from the nuclear threat, has also been struggling to contain Pyongyang since taking office in January.