US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Thursday denied any divergence of views with Donald Trump over the response to North Korea's recent missile launch, after he appeared to undercut the president's tough rhetoric.

Mattis had argued Wednesday that there was still room for diplomacy in dealing with Pyongyang's provocative ballistic missile launches, shortly after Trump said negotiations were "not the answer."

"'Diplomatic' can include economic sanctions, United Nations sanctions, it's not just talking. I didn't contradict anything the president said. We're not talking to the North Koreans right now," Mattis said at the Pentagon.

Source: AFP