WASHINGTON- The nation's top military officer says there's been no change in the posture of North Korea's military forces despite the "charged political environment" between Washington and Pyongyang.

The comments Tuesday from Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, come amid escalating rhetoric between the U.S. and North Korea.

Dunford says, "we haven't seen military activity that would be reflective of the charged political environment that we're seeing."

Trump tweeted that North Korea's leadership "won't be around much longer." North's top diplomat, Ri Yong Ho, argued Trump's tweet gives the reclusive nation the right to shoot down U.S. warplanes.

Dunford completes his first term at the end of September. The Senate Armed Services Committee is holding his confirmation hearing to give him another tour of duty.