The US has warned that North Korea will be “utterly destroyed” if war breaks out following its latest ballistic missile test.
US ambassador Nikki Haley told an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council that America is not seeking a war with Kim Jong-Un.
"The dictator of North Korea made a decision yesterday that brings us closer to war, not farther from it," she said.
"We have never sought war with North Korea and still today we do not seek it."
But she added: “If war comes make no mistake, the North Korean regime will be utterly destroyed.”
Ms Haley urged all nations to cut diplomatic and trade ties in order to deepen the state’s isolation.
President Donald Trump said he spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping about Pyongyang's "provocative actions", and he vowed that "additional major sanctions will be imposed on North Korea today."
It came as North Korea released photos which appeared to show leader Kim Jong-Un laughing while inspecting military equipment following his first missile launch in ten weeks.
Outside governments and analysts believe the North has made a jump in missile capability, with its weapons now able to reach anywhere on the US mainland.
Mr Trump has vowed to prevent North Korea from having that capability - using military force if necessary.
A White House statement about the phone conversation between the US and Chinese leaders said Mr Trump made clear "the determination of the United States to defend ourselves and our allies".
Mr Trump also "emphasised the need for China to use all available levers to convince North Korea to end its provocations and return to the path of denuclearisation."
China's state-run Xinhua news agency said Mr Xi told Mr Trump that denuclearising the Korean peninsula and preserving peace and stability in north-east Asia are China's unswerving goal.
Mr Xi said China would like to keep up communications with the US and all other related parties and "jointly push the nuclear issue toward the direction of peaceful settlement via dialogues and negotiations," according to Xinhua.
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US sanctions against North Korea were bolstered last week after the Trump administration declared North Korea a state sponsor of terrorism.
Those sanctions targeted North Korean shipping and Chinese companies that deal with the North.
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