WASHINGTON -- US Vice President Mike Pence praised India on Tuesday for its commitment to use its growing economic clout to increase pressure on North Korea over its nuclear and missile programs.

Pence made the remark at a meeting of the US-India Business Council, a day after President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi pledged to work together to hold accountable "all parties that support" the North's nuclear and missile programs.

"The greatest threat facing the peace and prosperity of Indo-Pacific region is the brutal regime in North Korea. President Trump and I are grateful for India's leadership in fully implementing the United Nations' sanctions and for its commitment to use its growing global leverage to increase diplomatic and economic pressure on North Korea," Pence said.

"We must not waver in our resolve. North Korea's reckless actions are a threat to us all, and so all of us must continue to step forward to work in close cooperation with one another and all our allies and partners in the region to ensure that we bring the appropriate amount of economic and diplomatic pressure until North Korea permanently abandons its nuclear and ballistic missile programs once and for all," he said.

On Monday, Trump said in a joint news conference with Modi that the North is "causing tremendous problems and is something that has to be dealt with, and probably dealt with rapidly."

The two leaders also said in a joint statement that they strongly condemn Pyongyang's continued provocations and pledged to work together to counter the North's weapons programs, including by "holding accountable all parties that support these programs." (Yonhap)