The US is seeking to pressure North Korea to resume diplomatic talks on its nuclear weapons programme, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said.

Animosity between the two countries spiked this month after North Korea warned it might fire missiles toward the US territory of Guam in response to warlike rhetoric from Donald Trump. The US leader said any threat from the northern half of the Korean Peninsula would be met with “fire and fury like the world has never seen”.

While the US prefers a diplomatic approach, the country and its allies are prepared to respond to a North Korean threat with military force, Mr Tillerson said at a news conference.

Earlier this week, North Korea appeared to put a hold on its threat to attack Guam, saying it would wait to assess “the foolish and stupid conduct” of the US before launching any missiles. On Twitter, Mr Trump called the move “a very wise and well reasoned decision”.

“With a unified international message like we’ve never had before”, North Korea will realise the level of isolation that it faces, Mr Tillerson said while standing next to Defence Secretary James Mattis and Japan’s top diplomat and defence chief.

Mr Tillerson declined to comment on remarks made by White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, who told The American Prospect, a left-of-centre publication, that there is no military solution to the crisis with North Korea – undercutting Mr Trump’s bold threats directed at Kim Jong-un’s regime.

“I don’t really have a comment on what Mr Bannon’s remarks were on that particular interview. I read those,” Mr Tillerson said. “I think we have been quite clear as to what the policy and posture against North Korea is.”

Mr Tillerson and Mr Mattis met with Japanese foreign minister Taro Kono and defence minister Itsunori Onodera to discuss the threats posed by North Korea’s continued development of its nuclear and ballistic weapons programme, as well as other topics.

Following their meeting, the US and Japanese top diplomats and defence chiefs said they had bolstered their countries’ alliance during what Mr Mattis described as a “warm and very productive” conversation.

The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

Mr Mattis added that the US would take immediate action to take down any missile launched toward the territory of its allies, with Mr Tillerson declaring that America would honour its defence treaty agreements with Japan “without reservation”.

Japan has remained a loyal sidekick to the US on North Korea, exhibiting no dismay about Mr Trump’s “fire and fury” comments, even as other other world leaders balked at the warlike rhetoric.

“I think highly of President Trump’s commitment toward the security of allies,” said Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe after a 30-minute phone call with the US leader, the ninth time the two have spoken by telephone since Mr Trump was inaugurated in January. The leaders have also met three times this year in person.

North Korea has fired 18 missiles during 12 tests since February, improving its technology with each launch. In July, it conducted its first test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which the regime claims could reach “anywhere in the world”.

According to some reports, the range of a North Korean nuclear missile may extend as far as New York City, but little is publicly known about the capabilities of North Korea’s ICBM technologies.

Mr Kono said Japan would strengthen its defence posture in response to the North Korean threat, as well as encourage China to fully implement UN sanctions targeting North Korea over its weapons programme.

Mr Trump has repeatedly complained that China is not helping the US rein in North Korea, and Mr Tillerson has said “China and Russia bear unique and special responsibility” for North Korea’s “growing threat to regional and global stability”.