US President Trump discusses North Korea threat with Japanese PM Shinzo Abe

Amid growing tensions between North Korea and the United states, US President Trump on Saturday spoke with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reaffirming cooperation between US, Japan and South Korea. 

"The two leaders reaffirmed the importance of close cooperation between the United States, Japan, and South Korea in the face of the growing threat from North Korea," the White House said in a statement.

Earlier, Pyongyang said it had developed a more advanced thermonuclear weapon that possesses "great destructive power".

North Korea said that the weapon would be loaded on a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that experts believe has the range to hit much of the US, Reuters reported.

Tensions escalated in July when North Korea carried out two tests of an ICBM, the Hwasong-14.

(With inputs from Reuters)