SENATOR John McCain has threatened North Korea with “extinction” if it continues its “aggressive” actions in the Korea Peninsula.
The statements come as South Korea’s defence minister has called for the re-establishment of nuclear missiles as a response to Pyongyang’s nuclear tests.
Speaking to CNN, Senator McCain said: “Washington needs to make sure that Kim Jong-Un knows that if he acts in an aggressive fashion, the price will be extinction.
"The Korean defence minister just a few days ago called for nuclear weapons to be redeployed, it ought to be seriously considered.
“I also think that we've got to tell the Chinese, it will hurt the United States if we lose some trade with you, but I'm telling you now, something is going to have to change.”
In July, North Korea conducted tests of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that are said to be capable of reaching the US mainland.
The hermit state also conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test of a hydrogen bomb last week, which it claims could be mounted on an ICBM.
South Korea’s conservative opposition party is in favour of the redeployment of missiles, but President Moon Jae-in has said it would go against the principle of a denuclearised Korean Peninsula.
After North Korea’s UN envoy said the country would never bow down to international pressure and give up its nuclear weapons program, diplomatic means of addressing the hostilities appear to have been sidelined in favour of military action.
Donald Trump’s UN ambassador Nikki Haley and the President himself have said “the time for talk is over”, despite China, Russia, and other members of the US administration claiming dialogue remains the main aim.
McCain also said in the interview that the current level of US defence spending is undermining readiness and service members’ safety.
He added: “I believe my first obligation as chairman of the Armed Services Committee is to make sure the men and women who are serving in our military have everything they need.
"Under this agreement, they not only don't have everything they need, their lives are in greater danger.
"This is a President that campaigned and said, 'I'm gonna rebuild the military, we're gonna increase that.”