A B-52 strategic bomber. © Tim Chong / Reuters
US President Donald Trump on November 7 warned North Korea that the US was prepared to use the full range of its military power, but urged Pyongyang to “make a deal” to end the nuclear standoff.
During a visit to Seoul, Trump said that while “we hope to God” not to have to resort to the use of full US military might, he said: “We cannot allow North Korea to threaten all that we have built.” Trump also urged North Korea to “do the right thing” and added that: “I do see some movement,” though he declined to elaborate. “It really makes sense for North Korea to come to the table and make a deal,” Trump said after talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who has supported diplomatic outreach to Pyongyang.
“We demand that North Korea ceases nuclear developments and returns to negotiations,” Moon Jae-in said after talks with Trump, adding that Washington and Seoul agreed to continue exerting pressure on Pyongyang to achieve that.
South Korea will immediately start talks with the United States on developing the Asian nation’s military capabilities, including deploying the latest surveillance assets, the South’s presidential office said after the conference. The leaders also agreed to continue joint three-way efforts with Japan for practical responses to North Korean threats.
