U. S. efforts to urge China to rein in North Korea’s nuclear activities seem to have failed even as the relationship between the U. S. and Korea is rapidly souring.
The U. S. spy satellites have detected new activity at North Korea’s underground nuclear test sites, according to reports by CNN. The activity appears to involve some modifications around one of the tunnel entrances to an underground test area but it is not yet clear if it is suggestive of another nuclear test by the country. The U. S. officials are concerned that a test could be initiated on Wednesday, coinciding with a visit by Chinese officials to Washington for high-level talks.
« While I greatly appreciate the efforts of President Xi and China to help with North Korea, it has not worked out. At least I know China tried, » Trump wrote on Twitter. According to CNN, Trump’s aides are still trying to figure out what the president meant with his tweet which seemed like a conciliatory message to China.
Read: US Challenges China On North Korea Nuclear Threat Amid Unsanctioned Missile Launches
The U. S. government has been banking on China to rein in North Korea from conducting nuclear tests. Earlier in April, he had intensively lobbied the Chinese President Xi Jinping to impose sanctions on Chinese banks and other bodies that North Korea might rely on for financial help. Before the president’s tweet, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters, “We have been very forceful in the political and economic pressure that has been applied to North Korea.
