BERLIN, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel warned Sunday that the provocations between Washington and Pyongyang could escalate to a military conflict.
"I am really concerned that the rhetorical escalations and mutual upheaval would end up in a military conflict," Gabriel said in an interview with Bild am Sonntag, a leading Sunday newspaper in Germany.
The nuclear and missile program of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is a serious threat to global peace, far beyond the Korean Peninsula and the region, added Gabriel.
"We must do everything we can to ensure that further provocations are not taken," the German minister said.
Earlier last week, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened "fire and fury" for DPRK's nuclear program, and the DPRK responded by saying it is making plans for "enveloping fire" targeting the U.S. territory of Guam, using intermediate missiles.
Trump furthered the rhetoric on Friday, saying that the U.S. military was "locked and loaded" to deal with the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula.
