A top U.S. military commander told reporters in Washington, D.C. on Thursday that he considered diplomacy to be the best way to deal with the threat from North Korea.

“I think that situation is ripe for a diplomatic resolution,” said Admiral Charles Richard, the chief of the U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM). “The best path to resolve issues with North Korea is using diplomacy first.”

He also assured that the U.S. is prepared to respond to threats posed by North Korea.

“We are very familiar with North Korea’s capabilities and I’m very confident in our ability to deter that,” he said.