Don hints at crossing the thin red line

Trump says major conflict with North Korea possible, praises Xi for efforts to resolve crisis

US President Donald Trump has said that a ‘major, major conflict” with North Korea is possible over its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

In an exclusive interview with Reuters at the Oval Office on Thursday, Mr Trump said that he wants to resolve the crisis peacefully, possibly through the use of new economic sanctions, although a military option is not off the table.

“There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. We’d love to solve things diplomatically but it’s very difficult,” Trump said describing the North as his biggest global challenge.

Asked if he considers North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to be rational, Mr Trump said, “He’s 27 years old, his father dies, took over a regime. So, say what you want but that’s not easy, especially at that age. So, I’ve said this before and I’m just telling you, and I’m not giving him credit, I’m just saying that’s a very hard thing to do. As to whether or not he’s rational, I have no opinion on it. I hope he’s rational.”

The US has called on China, a major ally of the North, to do more to rein in the isolated country.

Mr Trump lavished praise on Chinese President Xi Jinping for his efforts. “I believe he is trying very hard. I know he would like to be

able to do something.”

The US is installing the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (Thaad) missile defence system in South Korea to strike down any missiles fired by the North.

Mr Trump asked, “Why are we paying for it [Thaad]? It’s about a billion dollars. We’re protecting. So, I informed South Korea it would be appropriate if they paid. Nobody’s going to do that.” Trump also vowed to fix or scrap the “horrible” US-Korean trade deal calling the five-year-old pact “unacceptable”.

In a bid to mollify China, Mr Trump spurned the Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s suggestion that the two leaders hold another phone call.