State Department Spokesman John Kirby was laughed at Monday by AP writer Matt Lee over Kirby's answer to how the United States was responding to a missile launch by North Korea.
"I heard your colleague at the White House describe the response so far as 'robust', and I'd just like to, do you share that?" Lee said. "Do you think that it's been a 'robust' response from the Security Council or others in the International-"
"We believe that there has been certainly, we believe there has certainly been a high level of focus on this," Kirby said, "And every intention in the international community to take it seriously and to act accordingly. And again I point you back to some of the things that Ambassador Powers said yesterday."
"But there hasn't actually been any action?" Lee said.
"There have been active discussions on pursuing measures," Kirby said, "Now has there been a vote in the UN, has there been a vote?"
At this point, Lee began laughing.
"That-that's going to be in the book. Active discussion on pursuing measures?" Lee said.
"That's exactly right," Kirby said.
"And that's action?" Lee said.
"There have, you asked me if there's been anything. I said there's been active discussions in terms of pursuing measures, but are we there yet?" Kirby said. "We're not ready for a vote, but we want this to move forward as expeditiously as possible."
It is still not clear what actions the United States plans to take.