Trump: I’ve sent a ‘powerful armada’ to N Korea
THE US President boasted yesterday he is sending a ‘powerful armada’ to North Korea as China warned ‘ irresponsible actions’ would be dangerous.
After US ships moved into waters off the Korean peninsula, sparking nuclear threats from North Korea, Chinese premier Xi Jinping and Donald Trump spoke by phone to try to reduce tensions.
But asked in an interview what US vessels were doing in the area, Mr Trump remained vague, simply saying: ‘You never know, do you. You never know.’
He insisted ‘you know I never talk about the military’, but added: ‘ We are sending an armada – very powerful. We have submarines – very powerful. Far more powerful than the aircraft carrier, that I can tell you.’
His call with Mr Xi, just days after they met in Florida, came as an influential state- run Chinese newspaper warned the situation was the closest to a ‘ military clash’ since North Korea’s first nuclear test in 2006.
Tensions have escalated amid concern the country could soon conduct a sixth nuclear test or more long-range missiles in defiance of a UN resolution.
Mr Trump has vowed the US will stop North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons – acting alone if necessary, should China fail to help.
But Chinese broadcaster CCTV said Mr Xi told the President China ‘is committed to the target of de-nuclearisation on the peninsula, safeguarding peace and stability, and advocates resolving problems through peaceful means’.
The White House did not give an official response, although Mr Trump wrote on Twitter yesterday: ‘Had a very good call last night with the President of China concerning the menace of North Korea.’
Chinese foreign minister Lu Kang said the White House had initiated the call, adding: ‘We hope the relevant parties do not adopt irresponsible actions. Under the current circumstances, this is very dangerous.’
US and Chinese officials are worried North Korea may stage another missile test to coincide with Saturday’s 105th anniversary of regime founder Kim Ilsung’s birthday.
Pyongyang has claimed the approach of US ships justifies its development of its nuclear weapons. Although experts doubt it yet has the capability for such an attack, North Korea has warned its ‘nuclear sight’ is trained on the US mainland.
In the interview with Fox Business News yesterday, President Trump revealed the aircraft carrier strike group re-routed to the Korean region is being shadowed by US submarines.
He added that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ‘was doing the wrong thing, he’s making a
‘Beautiful chocolate cake’
big mistake.’ He said he ‘really liked’ President Xi when they met for talks at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida last Thursday.
Mr Trump also revealed he told the Chinese president he had launched missile strikes on Syria as the pair ate ‘the most beautiful piece of chocolate cake that you have ever seen’.
Mr Trump said their meeting went on longer than scheduled, adding: ‘I think we really understand each other. He’s a person I get along with really well.’
Mr Trump also said he was encouraged that China had sent two shiploads of North Korean coal back to Pyongyang, which the isolated country had hoped to sell to its neighbour.
The President added: ‘I hope China can help us. I think China can do much better on trade if they help us on North Korea.’
China’s influential Global Times newspaper urged North Korea to ‘avoid making mistakes at this time’. It wrote: ‘Not only is Washington brimming with confidence and arrogance after the missile attacks on Syria, but Trump is also willing to be regarded as a man who honours his promises.’
The newspaper, which doesn’t necessarily reflect government views, said if North Korea made another ‘ provocative move’, China would be willing to back unprecedented sanctions ‘such as restricting oil imports’.
Just as the US-Russian relationship flounders, analysts believe the cordiality between Mr Trump and Mr Xi may signal a ‘new phase’ of Sino-American relations. Alexander Neill, of the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Singapore, highlighted the ‘common interest’ between the two countries, adding: ‘China wants to rein in Kim Jong-un.’