U.S. VP Pence says working with allies to put pressure on North Korea

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence delivers a speech to U.S. and Japanese business leaders in Tokyo, Japan April 19, 2017. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

TOKYO (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said on Wednesday that Washington would work with its allies and China to put economic and diplomatic pressure on North Korea but added that America would defeat any attack with an "overwhelming response".

Pence arrived in Tokyo on Tuesday from South Korea and reassured Japan of U.S. commitment to reining in North Korea's nuclear and missile ambitions in a series of meetings with Japanese leaders, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.