WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said on Sunday that the United States wanted to avoid nuclear war with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
"The president doesn't want to be in a nuclear war, and we will do everything we can to make sure that doesn't occur," said Mnuchin in an interview with ABC News.
"I can assure you the president's number one priority is the safety of the American people and our allies," he added.
Mnuchin was the latest U.S. top official to offer reassurance after U.S. President Donald Trump ratcheted up tension with the DPRK with threats.
Trump on Tuesday threatened in a speech at the United Nations General Assembly that the United States "will have no choice than to totally destroy" the country if forced to defend itself or its allies.
After the threat, the DPRK said it might test a hydrogen bomb in the Pacific Ocean.
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