(BIVN) – Another nuclear test by North Korea has raised global tensions. An emergency UN Security Council briefing was held in response.

“This act is yet another serious breach of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s international obligations and undermines international non-proliferation and disarmament efforts,” read a statement issued by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres. “This act is also profoundly destabilizing for regional security. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is the only country that continues to break the norm against nuclear test explosions.”

The U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis had this to say to the press following a White House briefing:

We had a small group national security meeting today with the President and the Vice President about the latest provocation on the Korean peninsula. We have many military options, and the President wanted to be briefed on each one of them. We made clear that we have the ability to defend ourselves and our allies – South Korea and Japan – from any attack. And our commitments among the allies are ironclad.

Any threat to the United States, or its territories – including Guam – or our allies will be met with a massive military response – a response both effective and overwhelming.

Kim Jong Un should take heed the United Nations Security Council’s unified voice – all members unanimously agreed on the threat North Korea poses, and they remain unanimous in their commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula – because we are not looking to the total annihilation of a country – namely, North Korea.

But, as I said, we have many options to do so. Thank you very much.

The Department of State’s Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, made these remarks at the emergency UN meeting:

Kim Jong-Un’s action cannot be seen as defensive. He wants to be acknowledged as a nuclear power. But being a nuclear power is not about using those terrible weapons to threaten others. Nuclear powers understand their responsibilities. Kim Jong-Un shows no such understanding.

His abusive use of missiles, and his nuclear threats show that he is begging for war. War is never something the United States wants. We don’t want it now. But our country’s patience is not unlimited. We will defend our allies and our territory.

The idea that some have suggested of a so-called freeze-for-freeze is insulting. When a rogue regime has a nuclear weapon and an ICBM pointed at you, you do not take steps to lower your guard. No one would do that. We certainly won’t.

The time has come to exhaust all diplomatic means to end this crisis, and that means quickly enacting the strongest possible measures here in the UN Security Council. Only the strongest sanctions will enable us to resolve this problem through diplomacy. We have kicked the can down the road long enough. There is no more road left.

The situation again raises awareness over Hawaii’s role in the Pacific theater. At Pohakuloa Training Area here on Hawaii Island, military readiness is on display during the ongoing Exercise Bougainville II.

Marine Corps video documented the unloading of heavy equipment in Kawaihae for the exercise on August 7th.

The next week, live fire exercises at Pohakuloa prepared the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment for service as a forward deployed force in the Pacific.

On August 21, the commanding general of U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, Lt. Gen. David Berger, observed the progress of Exercise Bougainville II in person.

Exercise Bougainville II is scheduled to continue until September 13.