Prez raps China over Kim’s nuke program
President Trump has run out of patience with China for not reining in North Korea and its rapidly escalating nuclear program — including the launch of an ICBM the Pentagon said “we had not seen before.”
“Trade between China and North Korea grew almost 40% in the first quarter. So much for China working with us — but we had to give it a try!” Trump tweeted Wednesday before leaving for a G-20 summit in Europe.
Trump had been counting on Chinese President Xi Jinping to help corral the North.
But Trump admitted earlier this week that the United States would likely have to go it alone as China has ignored his calls to contain its rogue neighbor.
Pentagon spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis, who had said the United States was not familiar with the North Korean missile, denounced the test.
“We strongly condemn this act by North Korea. It is escalatory, it is destabilizing, it is also dangerous,” he said.
But the US military assured Americans Wednesday that it could defend the country from North Korean ICBMs, which some experts said could carry a nuclear warhead and potentially reach Alaska.
UN Ambassador Nikki Haley slammed North Korea later Wednesday during an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, saying it “does not want to be part of a peaceful world.”
“Their illegal missile launch was not only dangerous but reckless and irresponsible. They have cast a dark shadow of conflict on all nations that strive for peace,” Haley said.
The US, she said, was prepared to use military force if necessary.
“One of our capabilities lies with our considerable military forces. We will use them if we must, but we prefer not to have to go in that direction,” she said.
She also denounced North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, calling him a “vicious dictator” and blaming him for the death of US student Otto Warmbier, who died after being sent home in a coma.
Haley warned other countries that if they trade with North Korea in violation of UN sanctions, they could lose US trade deals — a direct threat to China, the North’s largest trading partner.
The US, she added, would introduce a tougher new UN resolution later this week and she warned that time was running out for a diplomatic solution.
“Time is short. Action is required. The world is on notice. If we act together, we can still prevent a catastrophe, and we can rid the world of a grave threat. If we fail to act in a serious way, there will be a different response,” she said.
As he flew to Poland, Trump spoke by phone about the North Korean threat with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and dis- cussed the need for nations to “stop hosting North Korean guest workers.”
Restricting guest workers is one way to reduce North Korea’s access to foreign currency.
Meanwhile, the top American general in South Korea said Wednesday “self-restraint” was all that was keeping the US and North Korea from going to war.