North Korea poses a worldwide threat that requires worldwide action, President Donald Trump said in Seoul Wednesday, but insisted “we are making a lot of progress” in reining in the rogue state.
The US leader, standing alongside his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-In, reiterated he was prepared to use the full range of American military might in order to halt Pyongyang’s march towards becoming a full-fledged nuclear power.
But he added: “It makes sense for North Korea to come to the table to make a deal that is good for the people of North Korea and the people of the world. North Korea is a worldwide threat that requires a worldwide action. I think we are making a lot of progress,” he said, adding that Chinese President Xi Jinping -- whom he has often claimed holds the key to disarming the North -- has been “very, very helpful”.
After a relaxed few days Tokyo, Seoul is a more complicated stop for the mercurial US president.Trump’s relationship with the liberal-leaning Moon has been cool, and the former real estate magnate has railed at South Korean moves to engage its neighbour -- something he has previously labelled “appeasement”.
But he began his diplomatic day vowing to “figure it all out” with “fine gentleman” Moon, despite their differences on the nuclear-armed North.