Trump: China cannot rein in N Korea
UNITED STATES: US President Donald Trump said yesterday that Chinese efforts to persuade North Korea to rein in its nuclear programme had failed, ratcheting up the rhetoric over the death of an American student who had been detained by Pyongyang.
Trump has held high hopes for greater co-operation from China to exert influence over North Korea, leaning heavily on Chinese President Xi Jinping for his assistance. The two leaders held a high-profile summit in Florida in April, and Trump has frequently praised Xi and resisted criticising Chinese trade practices.
‘‘While I greatly appreciate the efforts of President Xi & China to help with North Korea, it has not worked out. At least I know China tried!’’ Trump wrote in a tweet.
It was unclear whether his remark represented a significant shift in his thinking in the US struggle to stop North Korea’s nuclear programme and its test launching of missiles or a change in US policy towards China.
A US official, who did not want to be identified, said US spy satellites had detected movements recently at North Korea’s nuclear test site near a tunnel entrance, but it was unclear if these were preparations for a new nuclear test – perhaps to coincide with highlevel talks between the US and China in Washington today.
The Diplomatic and Security Dialogue will pair US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defence Secretary James Mattis with China’s top diplomat, State Councillor Yang Jiechi, and General Fang Fenghui, chief of state of the People’s Liberation Army.
The State Department says the dialogue will focus on ways to increase pressure on North Korea to give up its nuclear and missile programmes, but will also cover such areas as counterterrorism and territorial rivalries in the strategic South China Sea.
Trump has hardened his rhetoric against North Korea following the death of Otto Warmbier, a University of Virginia student who died on Tuesday after returning home from captivity in North Korea in a coma.
In a White House meeting with visiting Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko, Trump criticised the way Warmbier’s case was handled, appearing to assail both North Korea and his predecessor, President Barack Obama.
‘‘What happened to Otto is a disgrace. And I spoke with his family. His family is incredible ... but he should have been brought home a long time ago,’’ Trump said.
– Reuters