Panmunjom, South Korea (CNN)With North Korean soldiers standing less than 100

feet behind him at the Korean Demilitarized Zone, Vice President Mike Pence told CNN that
Pyongyang should understand that the Trump administration's approach toward the
regime will be different than that of past US presidents.

"We're going to abandon the failed policy of strategic patience. But we're going to
redouble our efforts to bring diplomatic and economic pressure to bear on North Korea.
Our hope is that we can resolve this issue peaceably," Pence said in an exclusive
interview at the DMZ.

What is the DMZ?

The demilitarized zone (DMZ) is a heavily-fortified buffer, four kilometers (2.5 miles) wide
and 250 kilometers (160 miles) long, that separates North and South Korea.

It was established by the armistice agreement that ended the Korean War in 1953, though
both sides technically remain at conflict as no peace treaty has ever been signed.

Numerous US officials have visited military bases overlooking the border, and the
Panmunjom Joint Security Area, where North and South Korean soldiers stand watch facing
each other and several meeting rooms straddle the border between the two countries.

To achieve this new strategy, the administration is relying heavily on China, a country
President Donald Trump spent his entire campaign railing against, but has since
stopped as it became clear North Korea would be a top priority requiring China's help.

"I know the President was heartened by his discussions with President Xi (Jinping).
We've seen China begin to take some actions to bring pressure on North Korea but
there needs to be more," Pence said.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said in a daily briefing Monday that the
onus was on all parties -- including the US and China -- to reach a peaceful solution.

"Resolving this issue requires all relevant parties, especially parties that bear major
responsibility and play a key role in this issue, to work in the same direction and make a
joint effort," he said.

Nuclear ambition

The North Korean regime began its nuclear program in earnest during the Clinton
administration, which tried to prevent its buildup with a diplomatic agreement.