US warns 'end of Kim Jong Un's regime' in case of attack on South; North Korea eyes strategic tie‑up with China

This warning was included in a joint declaration made by the US and South Korea, which was released on Saturday following discussions in Washington.

"The American side emphasized that any DPRK nuclear attack on the Republic of Korea will trigger a swift, overwhelming, and decisive response," quoted Reuters from the statement.

Simultaneously, a diplomatic delegation from North Korea began a visit to China on Saturday to talk about reinforcing strategic collaboration and bilateral relations, as reported by the North Korean state news agency KCNA.

On Friday, US and South Korean representatives convened in Washington for discussions about nuclear deterrence. This discussion took place as part of the second meeting of the bilateral consultative group concerning the threat of nuclear proliferation from North Korea (NCG).

Kim Te Hio, the Deputy National Security Advisor of South Korea, speculated that North Korea might test an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead in December.

Pyongyang has developed and launched a series of ballistic missiles which experts believe could strike locations in South Korea, Japan, and even the U.S. mainland. North Korean media have depicted some missile tests as rehearsals for nuclear attacks on "enemies".