US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said during a meeting with his South Korean counterpart on Thursday that any nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or other countries would spell the end of the Kim regime.
This was reported by Politico.
The statement came hours after Pyongyang test-fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile, further raising tensions in the region.
"Any nuclear attack on the United States or its allies and partners, including the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons, is unacceptable and will bring down the Kim regime," Austin said Thursday.
The Biden administration included similar language in its National Defense Strategy, which the Pentagon released last week.
The US and South Korea have said they are concerned about Pyongyang's recent missile launches.
Austin said the tests "destabilize the region" and called on Pyongyang to "stop such activities and start a serious dialogue."