Trump hints at major conflict with N. Korea

Would prefer diplomacy but it’s very difficult: Prez

Washington, April 28: U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday a major conflict with North Korea is possible in the standoff over its nuclear and missile programmes, 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,” Trump said in an interview ahead of his 100th day in office on Saturday. “We would love to solve things diplomatically but it is very difficult,” he said.

Washington, April 28: US President Donald Trump said on Friday a major conflict with North Korea is possible in the standoff over its nuclear and missile programmes, 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 told Reuters in an Oval Office interview ahead of his 100th day in office on Saturday.

Nonetheless, Mr Trump said he wanted to peacefully resolve a crisis that has bedeviled 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.

In other highlights of the 42-minute interview, Mr Trump was cool to speaking again with Taiwan’s President after an earlier telephone call with her angered China.

He also said he wants South Korea to pay the cost of the US THAAD anti-missile defense system, which he estimated at $1 billion, and intends to renegotiate or terminate a US free trade pact with South Korea because of a deep trade deficit with Seoul. Asked when he would announce his intention to renegotiate the pact, Mr Trump said: “Very soon. I’m announcing it now.”

Mr Trump said he was considering adding stops to Israel and Saudi Arabia to a Europe trip next month, emphasising that he wanted to see an Israeli-Palestinian peace. He complained that Saudi was not paying its fair share for US defense.

He said North Korea was his biggest global challenge. He praises Chinese President Xi Jinping for assistance in trying to rein in Pyongyang. — Reuters