In the midst of a 10-day Asia trip, Vice President Pence made an unannounced visit to the 4km-wide heavily-mined demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas where he met with troops, encouraged China to take action against North Kore, and warned Pyongyang that after years of testing the U.S. and South Korea with its nuclear ambitions, "the era of strategic patience is over."

As the brown bomber jacket-clad vice president was briefed near the military demarcation line, two North Korean soldiers watched from a short distance away, one taking multiple photographs of the American visitor, according to AP.

short distance away, one taking multiple photographs of the American visitor, according to AP.

Pence said he was "heartened" by early signs from China and hoped its leaders would "use the extraordinary levers they have" to prod Kim into giving up his nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. He repeated President Donald Trump's warning that the U.S. would act without China if necessary. "Either China will deal with this problem or the United States and its allies will," Pence said on Monday. "We want to see change. We want to see North Korea abandon its reckless path."