US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told the United Nations Security Council on Thursday that if North Korea strays from the path of diplomacy and denuclearisation if will "inevitably lead to ever increasing isolation and pressure."

"Enforcement of Security Council sanctions must continue vigorously and without fail until we realize the fully, final, verified denuclearisation," he told the 15-member body. "The members of the council must set the example on that effort."