US Secretary of Defence, Jim Mattis said the military is prepared to provide options to President Donald Trump over the lingering launch of ballistic missiles by North Korea.

Mattis said in a statement of the U.S. Department of Defence that the options of diplomatic and economic efforts are being deployed to check North Korea’s excesses.

He said: “The President and Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, have been very clear that we are leading with diplomatic and economic efforts.

“The military remains ready in accordance with our alliance with Japan, with Korea,’’ Mattis said during a news conference at the Pentagon.

“The North Korean launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile on July 4 is a very serious escalation and provocation and also an affront to the United Nations Security Council resolutions.’’

Mattis said emphasized that the measures targeted at North Korea were majorly diplomatic-based since the economic sanctions are choices that could be managed.

He nevertheless said the possibility of using military options are there to be considered.

His words: “We stand ready to provide options if they are necessary.’’ This, he said believing that current diplomatic approach has not failed.