File photo: Photo provided by Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on June 8, 2016 shows top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un (C front) having a photo session with the delegates to the celebrations of the 70th founding anniversary of the Korean Children's Union (KCU) at the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren's Palace in Pyongyang on June 7, 2016. (Xinhua/KCNA)

WASHINGTON, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis said on Wednesday that the U.S. is "never out of diplomatic solutions" following the latest missile launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Mattis made the remarks while meeting with his South Korean counterpart Soon Young-moo at the Pentagon to discuss ways to address the threat posed by the DPRK.

"We continue to work together, and the minister and I share responsibility to provide for the protection of our nation, our populations and our interests, which is what we are here to discuss today," Mattis said.

On Tuesday, the Japanese government said that the DPRK fired a missile that fell into the Pacific Ocean after passing over the Japanese archipelago.

On Wednesday, Trump spoke by phone with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, their second conversation after the latest missile launch by DPRK. The two leaders confirmed their "continuing, close" cooperation on efforts to address DPRK's launch of an intermediate range ballistic missile this week, according to the White House.