--- 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: 2026-10-08T09:32:38.142Z 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. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice 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. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=5ce3120a-bc80-4b4a-904b-9b44f2fb7c6b&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: White House Responds to North Korea Nuclear Test [Watch (HLS stream): White House Responds to North Korea Nuclear Test](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/BttZVKG5.m3u8) (0:43)  _Published 2017-09-03. White House Responds to North Korea Nuclear Test_  by [Alana Abramson](https://time.com/author/alana-abramson/)  ## Alana Abramson Sep 3, 2017 8:59 PM UTC White House Responds to North Korea Nuclear Test  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. As I said, we have many options to do so.” ## Transcript Any threat to the United States, towards 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 of the United Nation's 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. 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