Trump's defense secretary warns North Korea there will be an 'effective and overwhelming' response if they use nuclear weapons as Kim Jong-un sacks his spy chief

• e-mail

Donald Trump's defense secretary James Mattis has warned North Korean despot Kim Jong-un his hermit state faces an 'effective and overwhelming response' if it uses nuclear weapons. 

During a visit to south east Asia, Mattis warned the dictator that he faces oblivion if he attacks either Japan or South Korea. 

Pyongyang responded by claiming Trump was pushing the peninsula to 'the brink of nuclear war' as it emerged Kim Jong-un had sacked his spy chief Kim Won-Hong for 'abuse of power'.   

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis (left) and South Korean Defense Minister Han Min Koo (right) salute during a welcome ceremony for Mattis in Seoul on Friday

Mattis travelled to South Korea to reassure authorities in Seoul after his boss Donald Trump appeared to criticize a defense treaty with the country during the presidential campaign 

Mattis, pictured with Koo warned North Korea the United States was committed to the continued safety of South Korea and claimed the defense guarantees were 'ironclad' 

Mattis issued the threat during a meeting with the South Korean defense minister Han Min Koo. 

He said: 'North Korea continues to launch missiles, develop its nuclear weapons program, and engage in threatening rhetoric and behavior. 

'We stand with our peace-loving Republic of Korea ally to maintain stability on the peninsula and in the region,' he added. 

'America's commitments to defending our allies and to upholding our extended deterrence guarantees remain ironclad: Any attack on the United States, or our allies, will be defeated, and any use of nuclear weapons would be met with a response that would be effective and overwhelming.'

Some South Korean Christians praised Donald Trump during a demonstration in Seoul

Others criticized American plans and called for peace talks with Kim Jong-un's regime

In an explicit warning to North Korea, Mattis on Friday said any use of nuclear weapons by the North on the United States or its allies would be met with what he called an 'effective and overwhelming' response

But the North says that Mattis' visit 'worked out a plan for a preemptive attack on the North and ... desperately pushed forward it, pushing the situation on the peninsula to the brink of a nuclear war.'

Mattis's statement showed why he chose South Korea for his first visit overseas since becoming defense secretary January 20. 

He sought to reassure South Koreans of the longstanding US commitment to a defense treaty that President Donald Trump suggested during the campaign was a bad deal for America.

Mattis also was discussing with the South Koreans a timetable for deploying an advanced US missile defense system, the Theater High-Altitude Area Defense, or THAAAD, that is meant to improve protection of South Korea and Japan — as well as US troops stationed in both countries — against a North Korean missile attack.

North Korea reacted angrily on Friday, accusing the US and South Korea of pushing the peninsula to 'the brink of a nuclear war.' North Korean ruler Kim Jong Un (center) inspects a military drill in this January 28, 2017, file photo

The current caretaker South Korean government has said it supports THAAAD deployment, but the decision is in doubt because of approaching national elections.

In his remarks Friday, Han echoed Mattis's concern about North Korea's nuclear and missile programs. 

He said they 'blatantly threaten' the international community and have created a 'severe security situation' on the Korean peninsula. 

He described Mattis's visit so early in his tenure as a warning to North Korea.

After a series of meetings in Seoul, Mattis was scheduled to fly to Tokyo on Friday for further consultations. 

The US has 28,500 troops permanently based in South Korea and about 50,000 in Japan.

Last month, President Donald Trump fueled speculation of possible US military action to pre-empt North Korea's weapons development

Trump also accused China of 'not helping the US with North Korea' in the above tweet on January 2

Speaking to reporters as he traveled to South Korea, Mattis said he would consult with South Korean and Japanese officials about whether the current strategy for getting the North to curtail or eliminate its nuclear and missile programs was adequate. 

North Korea has said it was nearly ready to test-launch a ballistic missile of intercontinental range, meaning it could theoretically threat the United States.

'Were it not for the provocative behavior of North Korea, we would have no need for Thaad out here,' Mattis said in his breif remarks to reporters.

Alluding to China's objections to having Thaad deployed in South Korea, Mattis said, 'Thaad should be a worry to no nation other than North Korea.'

In Washington this week, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held its first policy hearing since Trump took office to discuss North Korea. 

There were more questions than answers.

Last month, Trump fueled speculation of possible US military action to pre-empt North Korea's weapons development. 

In response to Kim's threat, Trump tweeted, 'It won't happen!' 

But he didn't elaborate how he could be so sure.

'Does that mean we have drawn a red line?' Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., asked at Tuesday's Senate hearing.

During the campaign, Trump complained that defense treaties disadvantaged the US and that he would not rule out abandoning signatories if they refuse to pay more for their defense. 

He also suggested that South Korea and Japan, which are already within the range of North Korean missiles, might acquire their own nuclear weapons rather than rely on US deterrence.