US Vice President warns North Korea 'era of strategic patience is over'

Adjust Comment Print

National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster said in a television appearance that the U.S.

China reiterated on Monday (April 17) its opposition to the deployment of a sophisticated United States anti-missile system in South Korea.

"I mean, North Korea is very vulnerable to pressure from the Chinese", McMaster said on ABC's "This Week". "So this regime has given the world reason for concern". He will aim to reassure allies in South Korea and Japan that the U.S. will take appropriate steps to defend them against North Korean aggression.

Mr Trump himself asserted on Sunday that China was working with the U.S. on "the North Korea problem". "We will see what happens!", Mr Trump tweeted on Sunday.

The psychological war between the two Koreas officially ended in 2004, when the two sides agreed to cease propaganda activities.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry cited Mr Yang as saying high-level exchanges between both countries should continue, while differences in opinion should be mutually respected. The missile "blew up nearly immediately" after it was sacked on Sunday morning, USA military officials said, less than a day after leader Kim Jong Un paraded a never-before-seen long-range ballistic missile through the streets of Pyongyang.

Tensions have been rising on the Korean peninsulain recent days after the US Navy deployed near the Korean Peninsula, and over speculation that Pyongyang was preparing another nuclear test.

He said the alliance between South Korea and the United States is "ironclad" and reiterated that "all options are on the table" to pressure North Korea to get rid of its nuclear weapons and missile program.

More directly on North Korea, the president returned to a theme of placing much onus on China for reining in the North.

The Trump administration is focusing its North Korea strategy on tougher economic sanctions, possibly including an oil embargo, a global ban on its airline, intercepting cargo ships and punishing Chinese banks doing business with Pyongyang, Reuters reported last week, citing U.S. officials.

Facebook fake news campaign dismissed as a publicity stunt
"It's the first time we're doing something of this magnitude", said Kevin Chan, head of public policy at Facebook. Notably, Facebook is labeling the scourge "false news" instead of the more popular term " fake news ".

Amid broader fears that North Korea may again test a nuclear bomb, the Pentagon said Sunday's missile launch was a failure, with the weapon blowing up nearly immediately after its early morning takeoff near Sinpo on North Korea's east coast.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence has visited the Korean Demilitarized Zone Monday, a day after the embarrassing failure of a North Korean missile test which the U.S. and South Korea said exploded on launch.

Gen. McMaster made clear that US defense and intelligence agencies are readying a host of options to be presented to the president if requested.

North Korea has often test-fired missiles to mark major dates such as Saturday's 105th anniversary of the birth of the nation's founder Kim Il-Sung, or as gestures of defiance when top United States officials visit the region.

"There were a number of steps that were discussed", the briefer said on condition of anonymity, adding that when China recently turned back ships bringing North Korean coal, it was a "good first step".

The American leader is now on a three-day visit to South Korea as part of a 10-day tour of the Asia-Pacific. "So really no need to reinforce their failure". -North Korean standoff, Washington is expected to concentrate on diplomacy and economic tools as Vice President Mike Pence holds talks in Asia.

The U.S. Pacific Command said the missile "blew up nearly immediately", adding the type of missile was being analysed.

North Korea has a habit of firing off missiles to mark major political anniversaries, or as gestures of defiance to top United States officials visiting the region.

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration declined to name any major trading partner as a currency manipulator in a highly anticipated report on Friday, backing away from a key Trump campaign promise to slap such a label on China. Many outside analysts believe that North Korea has not yet mastered the technology to build warheads small enough to place on long-range missiles, though some civilian experts say North Korea can already build nuclear-tipped shorter range missiles that have South Korea and Japan within its striking range.

Comments