"We have seen great progress in recent months," Pence told Fox News on Monday when asked about the status of the crisis on the Korean peninsula. Yet when asked whether the military option is still on the table with respect to North Korea, Pence said, "Well, it never came off [the table]."
Pence stressed President Donald Trump has made it clear that his administration will not tolerate Pyongyang possessing nuclear arms and threatening the United States and its partners in the region.
On Tuesday, Trump will host South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the White House. Pence said the leaders will hold extended discussions on the North Korea issue.
Trump and Kim are set to hold a summit in Singapore on June 12. Despite the leader of North Korea threatening Washington last week that he may cancel the meeting due to the US-South Korea military drills, the Trump administration said it is continuing to prepare for the talks.