Trump’s warning on war

PRESIDENT Donald Trump says a major conflict with North Korea is possible in the standoff over its nuclear and missile programs, but he would prefer a diplomatic outcome to the dispute.

“There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely,” Mr Trump said yesterday.

Nonetheless, Mr Trump said he wanted to peacefully resolve a crisis that has bedevilled multiple US presidents, a path that he and his administration are emphasising by preparing a variety of new economic sanctions while not taking the military option off the table.

“We’d love to solve things diplomatically but it’s very difficult,” he said.

Mr Trump lavished praise on Chinese President Xi Jinping for Chinese assistance in trying to rein in North Korea.

“I believe he is trying very hard. He certainly doesn’t want to see turmoil and death.”

Also yesterday, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said China had threatened to impose sanctions on North Korea if the rogue nation conducted further nuclear tests.

“We know that China is in communications with the regime in Pyongyang,” Mr Tillerson said. “They confirmed to us that they had requested the regime conduct no further nuclear test.”

Mr Tillerson said China also told the US it had informed North Korea “that if they did conduct further nuclear tests, China would be taking sanctions actions on their own”.

The senior US Navy officer overseeing military operations in the Pacific said the crisis with North Korea was at the worst point he’d ever seen.

“It’s real,” Admiral Harry Harris Jr said.