China urged to use its vital influence over North Korea regime

Theresa May and President Trump have urged China to use its influence to ensure North Korea ends its “illegal acts” as the crisis over its latest nuclear test continued to dominate international affairs.

The Prime Minister and Mr Trump discussed the situation and agreed to put more economic pressure on the Kim Jong-un regime.

A Downing Street spokesman said: “The Prime Minister and the President agreed on the key role China has to play and that it was important they used all the leverage they had to ensure North Korea stopped conducting these illegal acts so we could ensure the security and safety of nations in the region.

“Mrs May said Britain would work with the US and international partners to continue to exert economic pressure on North Korea through further measures, including sanctions.”

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said: “I call on China to use all of its leverage to ensure a peaceful settlement of this grave crisis.”

Claiming Pyongyang’s latest nuclear test was a matter of global concern, he added: “At noon on Sunday, local time, North Korea tested the most powerful nuclear device ever detonated in the history of the regime’s quest for an illegal arsenal.

“The regime claimed to have exploded a hydrogen bomb capable of being delivered on an intercontinental ballistic missile.

“We should treat that claim with scepticism but the House must be under no illusion that this latest test marks another perilous advance in North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.”

In a tweet, Mr Trump said: “I am allowing Japan and South Korea to buy a substantially increased amount of highly-sophisticated military equipment from the United States.”