‘UN must put pressure on Kim to de-escalate nuclear tensions’

BRITAIN has called for a de-escalation of tensions over North Korea’s nuclear programme after the regime issued a renewed threat to launch a missile strike on the US Pacific island territory of Guam.

First Secretary of State Damian Green said it is “obviously” in Britain’s interests that the stand-off between Washington and Pyongyang does not lead to conflict.

He said the “sensible” way to proceed is to step up international pressure on the regime of Kim Jong Un through the United Nations.

“It is in all our interests to make sure that nothing escalates,” Mr Green told reporters in Edinburgh.

“We are very strongly in support of the UN process, which has and continues to put pressure on North Korea, and we will continue strongly to support the UN process which will, I hope, help to de-escalate tensions.”

Asked whether US President Donald Trump was wise to threaten to unleash “fire and fury” on the regime, Mr Green said: “I think the sensible way for people to proceed is to work through the UN process, that’s what the British government has been supporting and will continue to support.

“We think that the North Korean government has not been behaving properly and I hope they respond to the pressure from the UN.”

It followed the disclosure that US intelligence analysts had concluded that North Korean scientists had developed a nuclear warhead small enough to fit on a ballistic missile.

Analysts say that any military confrontation could escalate into a fullscale war with devastating consequences across the Korean peninsula.