 |
| Xi Jinping. Photo: CNN |
China’s President Xi Jinping has urged Donald Trump and
North Korea to avoid “words and actions” that worsen tensions, state
media says.
North Korea to avoid “words and actions” that worsen tensions, state
media says.
Mr Trump and North Korea have been exchanging hostile
rhetoric, with the United States president threatening to rain “fire and
fury” on the North.
rhetoric, with the United States president threatening to rain “fire and
fury” on the North.
But China, North Korea’s only major ally, has been urging
restraint.
restraint.
A White House statement said the US and China agreed North
Korea must stop “provocative and escalatory behaviour”.
Korea must stop “provocative and escalatory behaviour”.
Long-standing tensions over North Korea’s nuclear programme
worsened when it tested two intercontinental ballistic missiles in July, BBC
said.
worsened when it tested two intercontinental ballistic missiles in July, BBC
said.
The regime was also angered by last week’s UN decision to
increase economic sanctions against it.
increase economic sanctions against it.
According to Chinese state media, Mr Xi told Mr Trump in a
phone call that “all relevant parties” should stop “words and
deeds” that would exacerbate the situation.
phone call that “all relevant parties” should stop “words and
deeds” that would exacerbate the situation.
Mr Xi also stressed China and the US share “common
interests” over denuclearisation and maintaining peace on the Korean
peninsular.
interests” over denuclearisation and maintaining peace on the Korean
peninsular.
A White House statement on the phone call did not mention
the apparent plea to the US president.
the apparent plea to the US president.
It stressed the two men enjoyed a close relationship, which
will “hopefully lead to a peaceful resolution of the North Korea
problem”.
will “hopefully lead to a peaceful resolution of the North Korea
problem”.
President Trump has previously chided China for not reining
in North Korea, saying it could do “a lot more”.
in North Korea, saying it could do “a lot more”.
On Friday he issued a fresh threat against North Korea,
saying it should expect “big, big trouble” if anything happens to the
US territory of Guam.
saying it should expect “big, big trouble” if anything happens to the
US territory of Guam.
But he added: “Hopefully, it will all work out. Nobody
loves a peaceful solution better than President Trump, that I can tell
you.”
loves a peaceful solution better than President Trump, that I can tell
you.”
On Friday, US Defence Secretary James Mattis said America
still hopes to solve the North Korea crisis using diplomacy.
still hopes to solve the North Korea crisis using diplomacy.
He said war would be “catastrophic” and that
diplomacy was gaining results.
diplomacy was gaining results.
North Korea has announced plans to fire missiles near the
Pacific territory of Guam, but there is no indication an attack is imminent.
Pacific territory of Guam, but there is no indication an attack is imminent.
For its part Pyongyang has accused Mr Trump of
“driving” the Korean peninsula to the “brink of a nuclear
war”.
“driving” the Korean peninsula to the “brink of a nuclear
war”.
Moscow said the exchange of threats between Washington and
North Korea “worry us very much” and Germany has also expressed
alarm.
North Korea “worry us very much” and Germany has also expressed
alarm.
Comments 3