BALDWIN: Welcome back. You're watching CNN. I'm Brooke Baldwin. Just in, Defense Secretary James Mattis made his first comments since North Korea's launched its most far-reaching missile yet. Secretary Mattis calling it -- quote -- "a provocation and a serious escalation," but he also said this in an audio-only recording.</s>JAMES MATTIS, U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: I do not believe this capability in itself brings us closer to war, because the president's been very clear and the secretary of state's been very clear that we are leading with diplomatic and economic efforts. The military remains ready, in accordance with our alliance with Japan, with Korea. We stand ready to provide options, if they are necessary. But this is a purely diplomatically led, with economic sanctions and buttressed by the military, position that we're taking right now.</s>BALDWIN: Joining me now, former Senator, Congressman William Cohen, who was also the secretary of defense in the Clinton administration. He leads The Cohen Group, a global consulting firm. So, Secretary Cohen, a pleasure. Welcome.</s>WILLIAM COHEN, FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: Good to be with you.</s>BALDWIN: Sol, we just heard the words from Secretary Mattis, saying he doesn't think this move by North Korea will bring us closer to war. To you, sir, what do you think it would take to bring apart some sort of U.S. military action?</s>COHEN: Well, it would take some action on the part of the North Koreans to attack our forces either in Korea, our ally Japan, or to try and launch a missile that would attack the United States. But I think what Secretary Mattis is doing is trying to tamp down somewhat the implications contained in President Trump's tweet about serious consequences are going to flow. You can read that in economic terms, diplomatic terms, but you can also read it in military terms.
Interview With Former U.S. Secretary of Defense William Cohen.