When “a rogue regime has a nuclear weapon and an ICBM pointed at you, you don’t take steps to lower your guard," United States Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley says. | Getty Haley: Kim Jong Un is 'begging for war'

North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un is “begging for war,” U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said Monday at an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council.

Haley said that the U.S. does not want war, but that when “a rogue regime has a nuclear weapon and an ICBM pointed at you, you don’t take steps to lower your guard.”


North Korea claimed over the weekend that it detonated a hydrogen bomb that could be attached to an intercontinental missile capable of reaching the continental United States. It’s not clear if North Korea actually has the capabilities to do so.

President Donald Trump and South Korea President Moon Jae-In on Monday agreed to maximize pressure on Pyongyang during a call between the two leaders.

According to a White House statement, the pair discussed North Korea's claimed hydrogen bomb test and pledged to "strengthen military capabilities" -- including initial approval for South Korea to beef up its missile payload capabilities and "conceptual approval" for the purchase of billions of dollars worth of weapons and equipment from the U.S.

The White House's readout does not mention a trade deal between the two countries, which President Trump is reportedly considering withdrawing from.

On Sunday, Defense Secretary James Mattis warned of a "massive military response" if North Korea threatens to attack the United States or its allies. Trump also tweeted that the United States is considering stopping trade with countries that do business with North Korea.

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The Security Council imposed sanctions on North Korean exports last August, which have not kept the country from continuing to develop and test its nuclear capabilities.

South Korea says it believes North Korea is preparing for more missile launches. U.S. officials have struggled to determine an appropriate response to North Korean aggression, with Trump previously threatening "fire and fury.”

Brent Griffiths contributed to this story.

