Theresa May Refuses To Rule Out Military Action Against North Korea

Theresa May has refused to rule out using cyber warfare or military action against North Korea and insisted China must do "everything it can" to curb the rogue state's nuclear missile launches.

Mrs May arrived in Japan for a three-day visit, just 36 hours after Pyongyang sent a missile over the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, which landed in the Pacific Ocean.

The Prime Minister insisted the UK would be re-doubling its efforts to halt the regime's weapons testing programme.

She said: "We are very clear that the actions of North Korea are illegal. I think that they are significant actions of provocation."

"I think it is outrageous. That's why will be working with our international partners, as we have done previously, but we will be re-doubling our efforts with our international partners to put pressure on North Korea to stop these illegal activities."

"China has a key role to play here in terms of the pressure they can bring on North Korea," she added.

Kim Jong Un's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes were already on the agenda for the three-day visit, which begins in Kyoto.

Mrs May will attend a meeting of the Japanese National Security Council on Thursday, with former Australian premier Tony Abbott the only other foreign leader to have been given the honour.

Mrs May said: "I think what I have made clear is what the UK is looking at and what the UK doing and that is looking at pressure on North Korea, which is discussions about further sanctions and it's about the sort of change that China can bring. I think they are a key player in this."

"We would encourage China to do everything it can to bring pressure on North Korea to stop this," she added.

Mr Abe's special adviser, Mr Taniguchi, said the North Korean missile launch provided a "golden opportunity" for Britain and Japan "to stand up tall and make sure that North Korea's provocations must continue to be condemned".

As well as talks with Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe on boosting security and defence co-operation, Mrs May will be pushing for progress on an "ambitious" trade deal ready for when the UK quits the European Union.