--- title: James Mattis Warns North Korea: 'Massive Military Response' description: Defense Secretary James Mattis said any threat to the United States or its allies would be met with "a massive military response" canonical: https://time.com/4926218/james-mattis-north-korea-hydrogen-bomb/ author: Alana Abramson article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-09-03T20:59:27.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-02-23T17:16:01.999Z article:section: Politics og:title: James Mattis Responds to North Korea Testing Hydrogen Bomb og:description: "Any threat...will be met with a massive military response" og:url: https://time.com/4926218/james-mattis-north-korea-hydrogen-bomb/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8b6c1a331e6dbc7c/6988dc4e8fd2ee8ef2358b28/mattis-white-house.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 5995 og:image:height: 3372 og:image:alt: Jim Mattis, Joseph Dunford og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: James Mattis Responds to North Korea Testing Hydrogen Bomb twitter:description: "Any threat...will be met with a massive military response" twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8b6c1a331e6dbc7c/6988dc4e8fd2ee8ef2358b28/mattis-white-house.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # James Mattis to North Korea: Any Threat Will Be Met With 'Massive Military Response' > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME D.C. Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition D.C. Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington. D.C. Brief goes beyond the Washington headlines to explain the politics, personalities and power dynamics shaping what happens next. Senior correspondent Philip Elliott brings sharp context to the issues driving the capital, connecting the decisions made in Washington to the institutions, industries and people they affect. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, three times a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters.  by [Alana Abramson](https://time.com/author/alana-abramson/)  ## Alana Abramson Sep 3, 2017 8:59 PM UTC  Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, accompanied by Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford, speaks outside the White House on Sept. 3, 2017, regarding the escalating crisis in North Korea's nuclear threats. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, accompanied by Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford, speaks outside the White House on Sept. 3, 2017, regarding the escalating crisis in North Korea's nuclear threats. Pablo Martinez Monsivais—AP  by [Alana Abramson](https://time.com/author/alana-abramson/)  ## Alana Abramson Sep 3, 2017 8:59 PM UTC Defense Secretary James Mattis said the United States will prepare for all military options following North Korea’s claim that the country had successfully detonated a [hydrogen bomb](http://time.com/4926030/north-korea-nuclear-test-kim-jong-un/) during its sixth missile test. “Any threat to the United States or its territories, including [Guam](http://time.com/4904279/guam-north-korea-enveloping-fire/) or our allies will be met with a massive military response — a response both effective and overwhelming,” Mattis said outside the White House Sunday, flanked by Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford. The Secretary’s remarks were made immediately following a meeting with President Donald Trump about North Korea. Mattis did not respond to questions from reporters about the inevitability of an escalating military conflict. North Korea’s sixth nuclear test triggered a 5.7 magnitude tremor in the northeast part of the country, which the state later said was the detonation of a hydrogen bomb. Although North Korea has made these claims before, this explosion was thought to be ten times [larger](http://time.com/4926030/north-korea-nuclear-test-kim-jong-un/?xid=homepage) than the last test. Mattis’ remarks follow an announcement from United Nations Ambassador [Nikki Haley](https://twitter.com/nikkihaley/status/904409189455470592) that the U.S., South Korea, France, and the United Kingdom were convening an emergency meeting of the Security Council to discuss North Korea on Labor Day. Mattis said North Korea should listen to the U.N. Security Council. “All members unanimously agreed on the threat North Korea poses and they remain unanimous on their commitment to the de-nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” Mattis said. “Because we are not looking to the total annihilation of a country, namely North Korea. 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