President Donald Trump (R) and South Korean President Moon Jae-in deliver a joint statement from the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, U.S., June 30, 2017.
Carlos Barria | Reuters
South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Thursday U.S. President Donald Trump has promised to seek Seoul's approval before pursuing any option against nuclear-armed North Korea.
Trump's recent aggressive comments about deploying possible military options underscored his resolve to counter the threat from the North's nuclear weapons and missile programs.
However, they do not appear to have been made with the intention to take military action, Moon said at a news conference to mark his first 100 days in office.
Moon urged North Korea not to make further provocations, saying it would face much tougher sanctions that the impoverished country would be unable to withstand if it persists with its nuclear weapons development.