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Trump fears 'major, major conflict' with North Korea | Trump fears 'major, major conflict' with North Korea |
(35 minutes later) | |
US President Donald Trump has said he would like to solve the North Korea crisis diplomatically, but that a "major, major conflict" is possible. | |
In an interview with Reuters he praised China's President Xi Jinping for his handling of North Korea, calling him "a very good man" who loved his country. | |
Mr Trump also said it had been "very hard" for Kim Jong-un to take over North Korea at such a young age. | Mr Trump 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. |
China has told the US it will impose sanctions on North Korea if it conducts further nuclear tests, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says. | |
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned that tensions on the Korean peninsula risked getting out of control. | Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned that tensions on the Korean peninsula risked getting out of control. |
Shortly after being elected, Mr Trump accused China of not doing enough to rein in North Korea and suggested the US could take unilateral action. | |
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But in his wide-ranging interview inside 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 his wide-ranging interview inside 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 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." | |
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." | 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 raised tensions in recent weeks: | |
Earlier on Thursday, Mr Tillerson told Fox News that China had again urged North Korea to refrain from carrying out more tests. | Earlier on Thursday, Mr Tillerson told Fox News that China had again urged North Korea to refrain from carrying out more tests. |
In February, China banned coal imports from North Korea - one of the country's key exports - and is reportedly also considering restricting oil shipments if Pyongyang continues to behave belligerently. | |
What else did Mr Trump say? | What else did Mr Trump say? |
The president reflected on how the demands of his job were greater than his "previous life", which he said he had loved. | The president reflected on how the demands of his job were greater than his "previous life", which he said he had loved. |
"You're really into your own little cocoon, because you have such massive protection that you really can't go anywhere," he said. | "You're really into your own little cocoon, because you have such massive protection that you really can't go anywhere," he said. |
"I like to drive. I can't drive any more." | "I like to drive. I can't drive any more." |
On other key topics, Mr Trump said: | On other key topics, Mr Trump said: |
Earlier, Russia's President Vladimir Putin called for the resumption of talks with North Korea. | Earlier, Russia's President Vladimir Putin called for the resumption of talks with North Korea. |
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". |