washington recent warn north korea foreign minister possible atmospheric nuclear test pacific ocean take literally senior north korean official tell cnn interview air wednesday foreign minister well aware intentions supreme leader think take word literally ri yong pil senior diplomat north korea foreign ministry tell cnn north korean foreign minister ri yong ho say last month pyongyang may consider conduct powerful detonation hydrogen bomb pacific ocean amid rise tensions unite state minister make comment president donald trump warn north korea work develop nuclear-tipped missiles capable hit unite state would totally destroy threaten america cia chief mike pompeo say last week north korea could months away gain ability hit unite state nuclear weapons experts say atmospheric test would way demonstrate capability north korea previous nuclear test conduct underground trump next week make visit asia highlight campaign pressure north korea give nuclear missile program despite bellicose rhetoric white house officials say trump look peaceful resolution standoff options include military ones table u.s. navy say wednesday third aircraft carrier strike group sail asia-pacific region join two carriers ronald reagan theodore roosevelt navy officials say nimitz previously carry operations support fight islamic state iraq syria would ready support operations region head back home port say movement long plan lead south korea opposition figure hong jun-pyo head conservative liberty korea party tell reuters washington wednesday back trump tough stance hong say meet members congress administration tell majority south koreans want u.s. tactical nuclear weapons withdraw korean peninsula 1992 return south korea develop nuclear capability way deal situation nuclear balance north south say hong runner-up south korea 2017 presidential election reintroduce nuclear weapons remain unlikely least would undermine demand seoul washington north korea abandon nuclear program trump speak election campaign possibility south korea japan acquire nuclear weapons administration officials play remark give indication plan redeploy tactical weapons wednesday trump ask whether would visit tense demilitarize zone divide north south korea asia tour respond enigmatically rather say surprise tell reporters north korea diplomat say take atmospheric nuclear test threat 'literally