TRUMP’S WARNING TO ‘DICTATORS’
Don’t underestimate American resolve, says US president
UNITED States President Donald Trump warned yesterday that “no dictator” should underestimate the US, as he launched an Asia tour that will be dominated by the North Korea nuclear crisis.
Speaking to military personnel at Yokota Air Base just west of here, Trump donned a bomber jacket and issued a threat that “no one, no dictator, no regime and no nation should underestimate... American resolve”.
“Every once in a while in the past, they underestimated us. It was not pleasant for them, was it? We will never yield, never waver and never falter in defence of our people, our freedom and our great American flag.”
Trump’s marathon trip comes with the North Korea crisis at fever pitch, as US bombers fly sorties over the Korean peninsula and fears mount of another Pyongyang missile test.
Pentagon officials have warned that the only way to locate and secure North Korea’s nuclear weapons sites would be via a ground invasion.
The president’s first stops are Japan and South Korea — frontline US allies in the effort to force Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear programme, and the two countries with most to fear should a full-scale conflict break out.
Trump touched down under clear blue skies and stepped out with his wife Melania in bright sunshine to greet the crowds.
Speaking to reporters on the plane, he announced he would likely be meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin during the tour, as the international community scrambles for a solution to the North Korean crisis.
“I think it’s expected we’ll meet with Putin, yeah. We want Putin’s help on North Korea, and we’ll be meeting with a lot of different leaders,” said Trump.
He said North Korea was a “big problem for our country and for the world, and we want to get it solved” but had kind words for the people of the hermit state.
“I think they’re great people. They’re industrious. They’re warm, much warmer than the world really knows or understands.” AFP