Trump warns North Korea of ‘determined response’

Washington: US President Donald Trump says that years of “strategic patience” with North Korea have failed and it is now time for a “determined response”. “Together we are facing the threat of the reckless and brutal regime,” Mr Trump said at a press conference with South Korean President Moon Jaein.

Mr Trump called on North Korea to “choose a better path... quickly”. Separately, Mr Moon said that it was necessary to continue to engage in dialogue with North Korean leaders. The South Korean president added that his country would pursue defence reforms and continue to build up the capacity to defend itself.

Mr Moon said the North Korea issue was a top priority during the talks, stressing that “only strong security can bring about genuine peace” in the Asia-Pacific region. Speaking at the White House, Mr Trump said that the “era of strategic patience with the North Korean regime has failed, many years it has failed,” adding: “Frankly, that patience is over.”

The US leader said that Washington was “working closely with South Korea and Japan, as well as partners around the world, on a range of diplomatic, security and economic measures to protect our allies and our own citizens from this menace known as North Korea”.

It comes after the US announced sanctions on a Chinese bank accused of laundering North Korean money, sparking an angry response from China.