State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauertcondemned the rogue state's "provocative" missile tests during a press briefing.

She also defended Donald Trump after the President threatened to meet North Korea with "fire and fury like the world has never seen".

She told reporters Mr Trump was "sending a strong message" to Kim Jong-un to stop the power-crazed despot sparking a nuclear war.

Ms Nauert said: "Our long-term pressure campaign, which is backed by many other agents, is working. It is ratcheting up the pressure on North Korea.

"The President is sending a strong message to North Korea in the kind of language that North Korea understands.

"The President is a very effective spokesman people listen to him, and the President was sending a message loud and clear."

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North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), Hwasong-14 being lauched at an undisclosed place in North Korea

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It is a concern to the world, not just the United States

Heather Nauert

"There are lots of ways to get through to Kim Jong-un and his regime. Our issue is not with the people of the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea], it is with the regime itself.

"It is a big deal what is going on, it is a concern to the world, not just the United States.

"Those are alarming actions, they are provocative actions by North Korea."

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Earlier today, an official in Mr Trump's administration claimed his "fire and fury" remarks were unplanned and took his aides by surprised.

The anonymous official told the Reuters news agency: "President Trump's comment was unplanned and spontaneous.

"There had not been any discussions about escalating the rhetoric in response to North Korean leader Kim's statements or about the possible effects of doing that."

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'This is a BIG DEAL' Washington cranks up WW3 fears by attacking 'provocative' North Korea - Express.co.uk