The US is ready to forcefully "denuclearise North Korea," Donald Trump's national security adviser has said, calling the state a "grave threat". As tensions between the US and the communist state increase, General HR McMaster said the US was not ruling out war as they prepared to bring the regime to task.

"We're not committed to a peaceful resolution - we're committed to a resolution," Gen McMaster told the BBC.

"We want the resolution to be peaceful, but as the President said, all options are on the table. We have to be prepared, if necessary, to compel the denuclearisation of North Korea without the cooperation of that regime."

Gen McMaster added: "The chances of war - who knows what they are - they could go up or down based on what we all decide to do."

Gen McMaster also criticised North Korea for its repeated nuclear missile tests, calling the state a "grave threat".

In November the North Korean regime claimed to have successfully completed their most advanced nuclear test to date in a show of military strength.