Trump faults China for straining N. Korean ties China slams US ‘ logic’ over North
■ US Prez cites trade row for standstill in denuclearisation ■
Washington, Aug. 30: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday accused China of complicating Washington’s relationship with North Korea by rendering its ally economic assistance, as talks on Pyongyang’s denuclearisation are at a standstill.
However, he insisted his relationship with Kim Jong Un remained “very good” and said he was not considering resuming joint military exercises on the Korean Peninsula that Pyongyang considers “provocative.”
Trump’s refusal to direct criticism at Kim and instead blame other parties for a lack of progress comes despite reports the US received a belligerent letter from Pyongyang, which prompted Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to cancel a planned trip to North Korea last weekend.
“China makes it much more difficult in terms of our relationship with North Korea,” Trump said at the White House, though he insisted his ties with Chinese President Xi Jinping were “great.” He also noted his “fantastic relationship” with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, whom he met in Singapore in June.
“Part of the North Korea problem is caused by the trade disputes with China,” Trump said.
Beijing is Pyongyang’s sole major ally, and the ■ main transit country for any goods entering the North. Trump said that China is no longer being as tough as it could be on North Korea.
“We know that China is providing North Korea with considerable aid, including money, fuel, fertilizer and various other commodities. This is not helpful!” he tweeted on Wednesday evening.
On the subject of military exercises, that the US suspended following Trump’s summit with Kim, the President said “there is no reason at this time to be spending money on joint US- South Korea war games” that could resume if the need arose. Beijing, Aug. 30: China on Thursday derided the “irresponsible and absurd logic” of the US after President Donald Trump accused Beijing of making Washington’s relationship with North Korea more difficult.
“A lot of people, like me, feel that the US is first in the world when it comes to twisting the truth, and irresponsible and absurd logic,” Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular press briefing.
“This logic is not easily understood by all,” Hua said.
Trump’s refusal to direct criticism at North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and instead blame other parties for a lack of progress comes despite reports the US received a belligerent letter from Pyongyang, which prompted Pompeo to cancel a planned trip to North Korea last weekend.
“We hope the US can play a positive and constructive role in settling the issue just like the Chinese. To solve the problem, it should look at itself instead of shifting blame,” Hua added.
Efforts stalled several weeks ago, and last week, Trump ordered Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to cancel a planned trip to Pyongyang. At the time, Trump said that he did not believe China was helping in the denuclearisation process due to Washington’s tougher stance on trade.
Pompeo said on Tuesday that Washington remains ready to engage “when it is clear that chairman Kim stands ready to deliver on the commitments that he made at the Singapore summit to President Trump to completely denuclearise North Korea”.
According to the Washington Post, Pyongyang sent Pompeo a belligerent letter that prompted him to cancel the visit, though its precise contents were not known. On Wednesday, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert told reporters that Washington believes “denuclearisation has to take place before we get to other parts,” confirming that included such a declaration.