US Defense Secretary James Mattis delivers the keynote address during the Association of the United States Army's annual meeting and exposition at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC on Oct. 9, 2017. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

US Defense Secretary James Mattis made the statement at an annual meeting of the Association of the US Army in Washington on Monday.

He said terrorists in the Middle East continued to murder people and cause instability, adding that North Korea’s provocations are threatening world peace while they ignore UN condemnation. Mattis stressed that the US Department of Defense needs to ensure its efforts to strengthen military capabilities, improve ties with NATO, and expand partnerships with the Pacific and Indian Ocean regions.