The United States intends to honour the agreement... This doesn't mean we admire the agreement.

vations the president may have about the details.” But he added that that this “doesn't mean we admire the agreement”.

Turnbull thanked Pence for the “very important” commitment.

Pence also praised China's role in the escalating North Korean crisis but renewed calls for Beijing to use its “unique” position to bring Pyongyang to heel.

Tensions between Washington and Pyongyang have soared following a series of missile launches amid fears that the North may be readying a sixth nuclear test.

The USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier was expected to arrive in the Sea of Japan before the end of the month, Pence said.

The US Navy on April 8 said it was directing a naval strike group headed by the Vinson to “sail north” from waters off Singapore, as a “prudent measure” to deter the hermit regime.

Trump and other officials followed up with comments that made it sound like the ships were steaming towards the region. But the Navy admitted the ships were in fact sent in the opposite direction.