U.S. lawmakers look to Trump administration briefing for clear North Korea strategy

U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence leave a briefing for members of the U.S. Senate on North Korea at the White House in Washington, U.S, April 26, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers said high-profile briefings by the Trump administration on North Korea on Wednesday failed to provide the firm strategy they had hoped for dealing with what they described as a major national security threat.

As a standoff escalated over the reclusive Asian nation's development of nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic missiles, President Donald Trump welcomed all 100 members of the Senate to a highly unusual meeting at the White House complex, with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Secretary of Defence Jim Mattis, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and Marine General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.