U.S. can Handle N/Korea Alone, Trump tells China

U.S. President Donald Trump has told his Chinese counterpart that the United States can go it all alone in solving the problem in the Korean Peninsula especially the nuclear weapon treat from North Korea, if China decides not to assist.

Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed the situation in North Korea and Syria with U.S. President Donald Trump in a telephone call on Wednesday, China’s foreign ministry said.

The phone call between the two came after Trump turned to Twitter to vent his frustrations over North Korea.

Trump has repeatedly called on China to do more to rein in its unruly neighbor, which has stepped up its missile development and nuclear program since 2016.

“I explained to the President of China that a trade deal with the U.S. will be far better for them if they solve the North Korean problem,” he tweeted.

“North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! U.S.A.,” he wrote in a second tweet.

The U.S. has sent an aircraft carrier strike group to the region after the latest missile test by North Korea last week, drawing a forceful warning from Pyongyang.

According to a statement from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Xi reiterated that China wants a denuclearized Korean peninsula and called for peace and stability.

“China advocates to resolve the issue through peaceful means, and is willing to maintain communication and coordination with the US on the Korean Peninsula issue,” the statement quoted Xi as saying.

The two leaders met for the first time last week at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida and were having dinner when the US launched a strike against a Syrian airfield following a chemical attack.

On Syria, Xi said: “Any use of chemical weapons is unacceptable. We should adhere to the direction of resolving the issue through political means.

“Maintaining unity within the UN Security Council is very important to resolve the Syria issue and I hope the UNSC will speak with one voice.”

CNN