Many countries are weighing in on the escalating tensions, let's hear what they have to say. 

 

STEPHANE DUJARRIC SPOKESMAN FOR THE UN SECRETARY-GENERAL "Obviously the Secretary-General remains extremely concerned by the ongoing situation and he's troubled by the increase in confrontational rhetoric that we've seen." Both Germany and France have echoed their grave concern.

 

MARTIN SCHAEFER SPOKESMAN FOR GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER "Continued sabre rattling will not help anyone. A military engagement cannot be the solution for a nuclear-weapon free region. It cannot be the solution for the provocations of North Korea. We call on all those involved to exercise restraint."

 

CHRISTOPHE CASTANER SPOKESMAN FOR FRENCH GOVERNMENT "France has contributed to the UN Security Council's unanimous resolution to denounce this situation, alongside with the United States and China. We therefore call on all parties to act responsibly and de-escalate the situation."

 

Britain, on the other hand, viewed President Trump's recent comments as "one of the many strands of US activity", and said: "The United Kingdom stands shoulder to shoulder with the United States in tackling this threat and many others." Russia denounced a military solution as an option "in any way" and that political dialogue is the way forward.

 

VASSILY NEBENZIA RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO UN "Our strong wish is that the United States keeps calm and refrains from any moves that would provoke another party into actions that might be dangerous." "I think that we should give it a few days to calm down. Hopefully, as we said, we want the tensions to ease and we have to start seriously about devising and inventing ways for political dialogue."

 

A US politician viewed the ongoing situation as "grave", but added that it is not yet a crisis.

 

BILL RICHARDSON FORMER US AMBASSADOR TO UN "Well, the danger is this, look, we would wipe out North Korea, we are far superior militarily, they are a small country, but the collateral damage would be huge. A potential nuclear confrontation, artillery confrontation on the peninsula. We have 50-thousand American troops in Japan, 30-thousand in South Korea. They people of South Korea, our allies, 25 million in the perimeter of Seoul that could be hit by artillery or a more damaging weapon. We want to avoid that trip wire conflagration. This is why I think the president should calm down."

 

After all, when it comes to war, it's no longer just a confrontation between governments, or a loss of pride. More is at stake, as millions of innocent people may be involved.  CGTN.