Update | Trump to tell Xi that diplomatic efforts to stop North Korea have run their course
China should use its economic clout against Pyongyang
US President Donald Trump will warn Chinese President Xi Jinping that diplomatic efforts to halt North Korea’s missile tests and nuclear capabilities have run their course and that China should use economic measures to subdue Pyongyang.
Trump will use his upcoming summit with Xi at the US president’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida as an opportunity to discuss North Korea and other security and economic issues, a senior White House official said in a briefing with foreign media.
“The clock has now run out [for diplomacy and negotiations with North Korea] and all options are on the table for us”, the White House official said. “Even though we hear sometimes that China’s political influence may have diminished with North Korea, clearly its economic leverage has not, and so that will be one of the points of discussion.”
Cuts in China’s imports from North Korea so far haven’t cowed the reclusive nation’s military. As well, the tension between China and the US over this issue appears headed for further escalation unless Trump and Xi can agree to US measures to protect South Korea.
China’s coal imports from North Korea – which account for the bulk of trade between the two countries – eased in February, after new UN Security Council sanctions curbing Pyongyang’s sales abroad came into effect.
