The White House roundly blamed China for foiling President Trump’s pursuit of a diplomatic solution to the North Korean nuclear crisis Wednesday, asserting that Beijing…
The White House roundly blamed China for foiling President Trump’s pursuit of a diplomatic solution to the North Korean nuclear crisis Wednesday, asserting that Beijing is using its influence over Pyongyang to gain leverage in ongoing U. S.-China trade negotiations.
“North Korea is under tremendous pressure from China because of our major trade disputes with the Chinese government,” the White House said in a statement, suggesting Chinese frustration with the disputes has driven Beijing to convince Pyongyang not to cooperate with Washington.
The statement separately said Mr. Trump has not intention — despite comments to the contrary this week by Defense Secretary James Mattis — to restart U. S.-South Korea military drills that the president halted in a show of “good faith” to Pyongyang following his June summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
