Mattis on North Korean ICBM: 'We knew as soon as it was fired'

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said the United States was aware of North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile test the moment it was launched July 3.

"We knew as soon as it was fired," he told reporters at the Pentagon today, according to a readout provided by the Defense Department.

Mattis said he did not believe the launch, though provocative, had brought the United States and North Korea closer to war.

"We stand ready to provide options if they are necessary," he said. "But this is . . . purely diplomatically led, with economic sanctions and buttressed by the military position that we're taking right now, diplomatically led."

The Pentagon said Tuesday that North Korea's ICBM was a new type of missile shot from a mobile launching system. Mattis said every launch by North Korea was a chance for the regime of Kim Jong Un to perfect its capability.

"Every test provides them additional data, additional information," he said. "And it is a grave concern of the United Nations as the secretary general of the United Nations has pointed out. And we stand right alongside the United Nations on this."

Mattis said he was asked by CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr on Friday whether or not reporters should expect to come to work on July 4.

"I said, 'Who knows. Go ask the guy up in North Korea,'" Mattis said. "We maintain an alert posture that is plenty responsive to this sort of a surprise on his part."