The US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said his country is not North Korea's enemy.

Relations with the reclusive country have further deteriorated after it carried out a series of weapons tests - the most recent just last week.

Analysts said the "landmark" Hwasong-14 missile, which flew for around 40 minutes, could reach Alaska.

Speaking in Washington, Tillerson said: "We have reaffirmed our position towards North Korea, that what we are doing, we do not seek a regime change; we do not seek the collapse of the regime".

"We’re trying to convey to the North Koreans we are not your enemy, we are not your threat, but you are presenting an unacceptable threat to us, and we have to respond."

He also called on China to do more.

"China has ways that they can put pressure on and influence the North Korean regime because of this significant economic relationship that no one else has."

Speaking more broadly about US foreign policy, he added: "We recognize and acknowledge our adversaries and our enemies, and we tend to think about our relationships in those types of terms.

"But as we have said, America first is not America alone."