Regarding the recent comments from Mike Pompeo, director of the Central Intelligence Agency, that North Korea could be "months"

away from perfecting the ability to strike the United States with a nuclear weapon, Kang said, "It is true" that Pyongyang is quickly approaching such a capability.

"North Korea declaring the completion of its nuke weapon and it having a strategy on how to actually use it are different issues,"

she added.

Tensions have been rising between the US and North Korea, with each side spouting bellicose rhetoric and threatening military actions.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has vowed to take the "highest-level" measures against Washington as Trump threatened to "totally destroy" the North if the US is forced to defend itself and its allies. Trump called the North's ruler Kim "Rocket Man" and Kim dubbed Trump a "dotard."

Kang embarked on her six-day trip to Europe on Thursday to seek cooperation in dealing with North Korea's nuclear problem. It marks her first visit to Europe since taking office in June.

On Friday, Kang met with her Belgian counterpart Didier Reynders and Federica Mogherini, the European Union's top diplomat.

"We confirmed international community's full support on our approach to resolving the North Korea's nuke issue," she said, adding there was a shared understanding that the purpose of the sanctions on Pyongyang is to bring it to talks for denuclearization.

Regarding Washington's recent show of force with its strategic assets, Kang said it is a deterrent force to North Korea's provocations.

"It is another tool to support our diplomatic pressure (on the North)," she said.

Earlier this month, two US B-1B bombers carried out surprise nighttime exercises over the waters off South Korea's east and west coasts in a show of force against North Korea.

Officials said the US is expected to fly B-1B bombers over South Korea every two to three weeks to help deter the communist nation. (Yonhap)