This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-39741671
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Trump praises China's Xi over handling of North Korea | Trump praises China's Xi over handling of North Korea |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Donald Trump has praised China's President Xi Jinping for his handling of North Korea, calling him "a very good man" who loves his country. | Donald Trump has praised China's President Xi Jinping for his handling of North Korea, calling him "a very good man" who loves his country. |
The US president told Reuters he would like to solve the crisis diplomatically but that it was "difficult" and a "major, major conflict" was possible. | The US president told Reuters he would like to solve the crisis diplomatically but that it was "difficult" and a "major, major conflict" was possible. |
He also said it had been "very hard" for Kim Jong-un to take over North Korea at such a young age. | He also said it had been "very hard" for Kim Jong-un to take over North Korea at such a young age. |
The UN Security Council is meeting to discuss North Korea on Friday. | The UN Security Council is meeting to discuss North Korea on Friday. |
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said China has told the US it will impose sanctions on North Korea if it conducts further nuclear tests. | US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said China has told the US it will impose sanctions on North Korea if it conducts further nuclear tests. |
Shortly after being elected, Mr Trump had accused China of not doing enough to rein in North Korea, and suggested the US could take unilateral action. | Shortly after being elected, Mr Trump had accused China of not doing enough to rein in North Korea, and suggested the US could take unilateral action. |
But in a wide-ranging interview with Reuters from the Oval Office, Mr Trump - who met Mr Xi earlier this month - said the Chinese president "certainly doesn't want to see turmoil and death". | But in a wide-ranging interview with Reuters from the Oval Office, Mr Trump - who met Mr Xi earlier this month - said the Chinese president "certainly doesn't want to see turmoil and death". |
"He is a very good man and I got to know him very well. | "He is a very good man and I got to know him very well. |
"He loves China and he loves the people of China. I know he would like to be able to do something, perhaps it's possible that he can't," he said. | "He loves China and he loves the people of China. I know he would like to be able to do something, perhaps it's possible that he can't," he said. |
Of Mr Kim, he said: "He's 27 years old. His father dies, took over a regime. So say what you want but that is not easy, especially at that age." | |
But he stressed he was "not giving him credit", and added: "I hope he's rational." | But he stressed he was "not giving him credit", and added: "I hope he's rational." |
"There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely," said Mr Trump. | "There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely," said Mr Trump. |
North Korea has carried out repeated missile tests in recent months and is threatening to conduct its sixth nuclear test. | North Korea has carried out repeated missile tests in recent months and is threatening to conduct its sixth nuclear test. |
Other developments have escalated tensions in recent weeks: | |
Earlier on Thursday, Mr Tillerson told Fox News that China has again urged North Korea to refrain from carrying out more tests. | |
China banned coal imports from North Korea in February - one of the country's key exports - and is reportedly also considering restricting oil shipments if Pyongyang continues to behave belligerently. | |
Mr Tillerson is due to chair a UN Security Council foreign ministers meeting on Friday, where he will lobby for existing sanctions against North Korea to be fully implemented to "increase the pressure on the regime," he said. | |
Earlier, Russia's Vladimir Putin called for the resumption of talks with North Korea as tensions on the peninsula continue to escalate. | Earlier, Russia's Vladimir Putin called for the resumption of talks with North Korea as tensions on the peninsula continue to escalate. |
Speaking in Moscow, where he met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, he urged those involved to "refrain from using belligerent rhetoric". | Speaking in Moscow, where he met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, he urged those involved to "refrain from using belligerent rhetoric". |