Pence sends Syria warning to North
US vice-president warns Pyongyang not to test Trump’s resolve, says all options are on table
Seoul, Beijing, April 17: US vice- president Mike Pence warned North Korea Monday not to test Donald Trump’s resolve, declaring that “all options are on the table” in curbing its missile and nuclear weapons programmes.
Defying international pressure, the North on Sunday test-fired another missile as fears grow that it may be preparing for its sixth atomic weapons test.
“We hope to achieve this objective (the North’s denuclearisation) through peaceful means but all options are on the table,” Mr Pence told a press conference in the South Korean capital after his trip to the tense border with the North.
“Just in the past two weeks, the world witnessed the strength and resolve of our new President in actions taken in Syria and Afghanistan,” Mr Pence said, adding, “North Korea would do well not to test his resolve, or the strength of the armed forces of the United States in this region.” Mr Pence was addressing the press conference with South Korea’s acting President Hwang Kyo-Ahn.
Tensions between Pyongyang and Washington have soared in recent weeks, as a series of North Korean missile tests have prompted ever-more bellicose warnings from Trump’s administration.
The new and inexperienced US President has indicated he will not allow North Korea to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the western United States.
Mr Pence declared that the era of US “strategic patience” in dealing with the North was over, after more than two decades.
North Korea “answered our overtures with wilful deception, broken promises and nuclear and missile tests”, he said.
Meanwhile, China on Monday denied any political motive in the cancellation of flights by its flag carrier to the North, as pressure mounts on Beijing to help curb Pyongyang’s weapons programmes.
State broadcaster CCTV reported that Air China had suspended its BeijingPyongyang route, leading to speculation the move was intended to pressure the North.
But foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang distanced his government from the decision and said it was purely “marketbased”.
“It’s natural for Air China or other airlines to make such decisions,” Mr Lu told a regular press briefing. “There shouldn’t be overinterpretation of this issue,” he added.
Beijing is Pyongyang’s only major ally and biggest trade partner.