President Trump says he warned Chinese President Xi Jinping about the danger North Korea poses during their Wednesday phone call.
Xi reportedly told Trump during their conversation that China desires a peaceful solution to rising tensions with Pyongyang.
“China insists on realizing the denuclearization of the peninsula … and is willing to maintain communication and coordination with the American side over the issue on the peninsula,” he was quoted as saying by state media.
{mosads}Trump said Tuesday he will negotiate a “far better” trade deal with the U.S. should China help stop North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons.
“North Korea is looking for trouble,” he tweeted. “If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! U.S.A.”
Trump hosted Xi at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla., last weekend amid rising global friction surrounding North Korea.
North Korea’s foreign ministry on Tuesday said the Asian nation is capable of defending itself from America’s “reckless acts of aggression.”
“We will hold the U.S. wholly accountable for the catastrophic consequences to be entailed by its outrageous actions,” it said.