Tillerson: US military action against N. Korea is "option on table"

US military action against North Korea is an "option on the table," Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has stated, adding that Washington's "strategic patience" with the isolated country has ended.

"Let me be very clear. The policy of strategic patience has ended. We are exploring a new range of diplomatic, security and economic measures. All options are on the table," Tillerson told reporters during a joint news conference with South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se on Friday.

"Certainly we do not want to, for things to get to military conflict," Tillerson said.

However, he went on to say that "if they (North Korea) elevate the threat of their weapons program to a level that we believe requires action, then, that option's on the table."

He added that a "comprehensive set of capabilities" is being developed to deal with...