Trump talks up action

US President Donald Trump said at the weekend that diplomatic efforts with North Korea have consistently failed, adding that “only one thing will work”.

Mr Trump has engaged in an escalating war of words with North Korean strongman Kim Jong-un (pictured), trading insults amid rising tensions between the two nucleararmed rivals.

“Presidents and their administrations have been talking to North Korea for 25 years, agreements made and massive amounts of money paid,” Mr Trump tweeted.

It “hasn’t worked, agreements violated before the ink was dry, makings fools of US negotiators. Sorry, but only one thing will work!”

The US has not ruled out the use of force to compel Pyongyang to halt missile and nuclear tests, and Mr Trump has threatened to destroy the country.

As Secretary of State Rex Tillerson flew home from meeting with top Chinese officials, Mr Trump tweeted that his envoy was “wasting his time” in trying to probe North Korea’s willingness to talk.

The message came after Mr Tillerson had revealed there were backchannels between US and North Korean officials.