US Vice-President Mike Pence has said his country’s “era of strategic patience” with North Korea is over.

Pence first made the remarks at the demilitarized zone (DMZ), the area dividing the two Koreas, during a visit to South Korea to reaffirm ties, reports the BBC.

His visit comes amid escalated tensions on the peninsula, with heated rhetoric from both North Korea and the US.

He arrived in Seoul on Sunday hours after North Korea carried out a failed missile launch.

On Monday, the US and South Korea launched a joint air force military exercise to ensure readiness against North Korea, according to South Korean media.

Pence, whose father served in the Korean War, visited the truce village of Panmunjom, where the war's armistice was signed.

Speaking alongside South Korea’s acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn later, he said North Korea had conducted nuclear and missile tests as the previous US administration had observed a policy of “strategic patience”, but this was now over.

He reiterated US support for South Korea, telling his host: “We are with you 100%”.

Hwang hailed the early deployment of the controversial US missile defense system (known as Thaad) designed to protect against threats from North Korea.

The US vice-president said he was disappointed that China had taken retaliatory actions against South Korea in response to the move.

BDST: 1604 HRS, APR 17, 2017
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