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| Trump warns North Korea's Kim if he messes with the US ‘he will truly regret it’ | Trump warns North Korea's Kim if he messes with the US ‘he will truly regret it’ |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Donald Trump has warned Kim Jong Un that if any US territory is attacked, the North Korean leader "will truly regret it." | Donald Trump has warned Kim Jong Un that if any US territory is attacked, the North Korean leader "will truly regret it." |
| "This man will not get away with what he is doing," Mr Trump said. "If he utters one threat in the form of an overt threat ... or if he does anything with respect to Guam, or any place else that is an American territory or an America ally, he will truly regret it and he will regret it fast." | "This man will not get away with what he is doing," Mr Trump said. "If he utters one threat in the form of an overt threat ... or if he does anything with respect to Guam, or any place else that is an American territory or an America ally, he will truly regret it and he will regret it fast." |
| The President issued the threat in remarks to the press corps that has accompanied him on his extended vacation at his golf resort in New Jersey. When asked about his tweet earlier that morning saying that US military solutions are "locked and loaded" should North Korea threaten the US, Mr Trump said that he's sure the North Koreans know what he meant. | The President issued the threat in remarks to the press corps that has accompanied him on his extended vacation at his golf resort in New Jersey. When asked about his tweet earlier that morning saying that US military solutions are "locked and loaded" should North Korea threaten the US, Mr Trump said that he's sure the North Koreans know what he meant. |
| "Those words are very, very easy to understand," he said. | "Those words are very, very easy to understand," he said. |
| Speaking later after meeting with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, Mr Trump said that both Japan and South Korea - the two allies most threatened by any potential North Korean agression - would be "very happy" with what the US is doing. He noted then that the situation with North Korea is very dangerous, but that "noone loves a peaceful solution more than President Trump." | |
| Mr Trump and Mr Kim have been engaged in an escalating duel of spoken threats recently, after North Korea tested two Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) last month, and after an intelligence report indicated that their military had successfully miniaturised nuclear bombs so that they could be attached to missiles. | Mr Trump and Mr Kim have been engaged in an escalating duel of spoken threats recently, after North Korea tested two Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) last month, and after an intelligence report indicated that their military had successfully miniaturised nuclear bombs so that they could be attached to missiles. |
| Those actions prompted Mr Trump and the US to place severe sanctions on North Korea, leading the Asian country to say they would exact revenge for the economic losses. Mr Trump then threaten "fire and fury" if North Korea kept on moving toward their nuclear missile goals, and if they kept on threatening the US and its territories. | Those actions prompted Mr Trump and the US to place severe sanctions on North Korea, leading the Asian country to say they would exact revenge for the economic losses. Mr Trump then threaten "fire and fury" if North Korea kept on moving toward their nuclear missile goals, and if they kept on threatening the US and its territories. |
| North Korea says that they are planning on launching missiles at Guam by the end of the month, but have so far indicated that the rockets will be warning shots - nothing on land will be targeted. | North Korea says that they are planning on launching missiles at Guam by the end of the month, but have so far indicated that the rockets will be warning shots - nothing on land will be targeted. |
| It is not clear if the plans that the President says are "locked and loaded" would be preemptive strikes, or if they would be defensive and reactionary. | It is not clear if the plans that the President says are "locked and loaded" would be preemptive strikes, or if they would be defensive and reactionary. |
| Officials on Guam, a Pacific island that is home to a population of more than 160,000, have begun issuing advisories to residents in case North Korea does end up shooting rockets at them. The island, which hosts two major US military base, is home to many US military families. | Officials on Guam, a Pacific island that is home to a population of more than 160,000, have begun issuing advisories to residents in case North Korea does end up shooting rockets at them. The island, which hosts two major US military base, is home to many US military families. |
| "Do not look at the flash or fireball as it can blind you," the guidelines said. "Take cover behind anything that might offer protection." | "Do not look at the flash or fireball as it can blind you," the guidelines said. "Take cover behind anything that might offer protection." |
| Mr Trump's tough threats haven't been received well with everyone in the foreign policy community. Ben Rhodes, a former foreign policy adviser to Barack Obama criticised the President, writing on Twitter: "This isn't a video game. Hundreds of thousands of lives at stake in war with NK. Was this statement signed off on by anyone?" | Mr Trump's tough threats haven't been received well with everyone in the foreign policy community. Ben Rhodes, a former foreign policy adviser to Barack Obama criticised the President, writing on Twitter: "This isn't a video game. Hundreds of thousands of lives at stake in war with NK. Was this statement signed off on by anyone?" |
| "Was this statement coordinated with South Korea with South Korea and Japan, our allies who are at enormous risk in conventional conflict with North Korea?" he wrote. | "Was this statement coordinated with South Korea with South Korea and Japan, our allies who are at enormous risk in conventional conflict with North Korea?" he wrote. |
| Foreign leaders have also jumped into the conversation, with officials in both Russia and Germany weighing in to urge calm in what appears to be a conflict spiraling toward crisis, or maybe war. | Foreign leaders have also jumped into the conversation, with officials in both Russia and Germany weighing in to urge calm in what appears to be a conflict spiraling toward crisis, or maybe war. |
| Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov urged the two countries to agree to a previously unpublished plan put together by Rusia and China that would see a freeze on North Korea's missile tests and a moratorium on large-scale military exercises between the US and South Korea. Neither country has indicated that such a deal would be palatable. China is North Korea's main trading partner, and has advocated for a similar solution before. While China isn't necessarily interested in North Korea's regime, the country does enjoy its existence as a buffer between them and South Korea. | |
| "Unfortunately, the rhetoric in Washington and Pyongyang is now starting to go over the top,” Lavrov said on live state television at a forum for Russian students. “We still hope and believe that common sense will prevail.” | "Unfortunately, the rhetoric in Washington and Pyongyang is now starting to go over the top,” Lavrov said on live state television at a forum for Russian students. “We still hope and believe that common sense will prevail.” |
| Mr Trump was due to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping later Friday evening. | |
| German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that no military solution for the dispute is available, and urged for a diplomatic solution brokered by the United Nations Security Council. | German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that no military solution for the dispute is available, and urged for a diplomatic solution brokered by the United Nations Security Council. |
| "I see the need for enduring work at the UN Security Council ... as well as tight cooperation between the countries involve, especially the US and China," she said. | |
| Mr Trump later indicated that he wasn't sure what Ms Merkel meant when saying no military option was available, and indicated that he believed she may have been referring to her own country instead of his. | Mr Trump later indicated that he wasn't sure what Ms Merkel meant when saying no military option was available, and indicated that he believed she may have been referring to her own country instead of his. |
| With tensions flaring, South Koreans are preparing for the worst. In markets in Seoul and elsewhere, they're stocking up on ready-to-eat meals that could be relied on in an emergency. The government is planning to expand national civil defense drills on August 23. | With tensions flaring, South Koreans are preparing for the worst. In markets in Seoul and elsewhere, they're stocking up on ready-to-eat meals that could be relied on in an emergency. The government is planning to expand national civil defense drills on August 23. |
| Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of soldiers are stationed alongside both sides of the border. | Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of soldiers are stationed alongside both sides of the border. |
| The tensions have already impacted global market, which saw a loss of $1 trillion Friday, with investors taking refuge in the yen, Swiss francs, gold, and government bonds. | The tensions have already impacted global market, which saw a loss of $1 trillion Friday, with investors taking refuge in the yen, Swiss francs, gold, and government bonds. |
| North Korea's most recent missile test came about last month, and it appeared to show that North Korea was at least theoretically capable of striking the US mainland with a missile. That news became more worrisome for the US, when a leaked intelligence report showed that Washington intelligence services believed that Mr Kim possess the ability to miniaturise nuclear warheads to be placed on those ICBMs. | North Korea's most recent missile test came about last month, and it appeared to show that North Korea was at least theoretically capable of striking the US mainland with a missile. That news became more worrisome for the US, when a leaked intelligence report showed that Washington intelligence services believed that Mr Kim possess the ability to miniaturise nuclear warheads to be placed on those ICBMs. |
| "We're backed 100 percent by our military, we're backed by everybody and we're backed by many other leaders," Mr Trump told reporters after that leak. | "We're backed 100 percent by our military, we're backed by everybody and we're backed by many other leaders," Mr Trump told reporters after that leak. |
| "And I noticed that many senators and others came out today very much in favour of what I said. But if anything that statement may not be tough enough," he said. | "And I noticed that many senators and others came out today very much in favour of what I said. But if anything that statement may not be tough enough," he said. |
| His approach to North Korea's nuclear weapons development contrasts from his predecessors, who have preferred less bombastic international statements on the issue. Bill Clinton, Mr Trump said, was "weak and efficient" in it's approach, while Barack Obama "didn't even want to talk about it," he said. | His approach to North Korea's nuclear weapons development contrasts from his predecessors, who have preferred less bombastic international statements on the issue. Bill Clinton, Mr Trump said, was "weak and efficient" in it's approach, while Barack Obama "didn't even want to talk about it," he said. |
| The President appears at least willing to try to find a diplomatic solution, and it emerged last week that Joseph Yun, the US envoy for North Korea policy, has engaged in back-channel diplomacy for several months with Pak Song Il, a senior diplomat at Pyongyang's UN mission. The two have discussed the deteriorating relations between their countries and of Americans imprisoned in North Korea, according to the Associated Press. | The President appears at least willing to try to find a diplomatic solution, and it emerged last week that Joseph Yun, the US envoy for North Korea policy, has engaged in back-channel diplomacy for several months with Pak Song Il, a senior diplomat at Pyongyang's UN mission. The two have discussed the deteriorating relations between their countries and of Americans imprisoned in North Korea, according to the Associated Press. |
| Mr Trump's language has raised concerns back in the United States that the President will lead the US into an unnecessary military conflict. Sixty Democratic members of Congress have signed a letter of concern to Mr Tillerson - whose department says it is unified with the West Wing. | |
| "These statements are irresponsible and dangerous, and also senselessly provide a boon to domestic North Korean propaganda which has long sought to portray the United States as a threat to their people," they wrote. | "These statements are irresponsible and dangerous, and also senselessly provide a boon to domestic North Korean propaganda which has long sought to portray the United States as a threat to their people," they wrote. |
| Mr Tillerson said this week that he doesn't believe that the US faces an imminent threat from North Korea. But, in spite of that,62 per cent of Americans believe that North Korea is a very serious threat. Only Isis is perceived as more of a threat in the US. | Mr Tillerson said this week that he doesn't believe that the US faces an imminent threat from North Korea. But, in spite of that,62 per cent of Americans believe that North Korea is a very serious threat. Only Isis is perceived as more of a threat in the US. |