US President-elect Donald Trump’s « clear warning » to North Korea shows he is aware of the urgency of the threat posed by its nuclear programme and will not waver from a policy of sanctions against the isolated country, South Korea has said.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said on Sunday that his nuclear-capable country was close to test-launching an intercontinental ballistic missile, raising the prospect of putting parts of the United States in range.
Taking to Twitter, Mr Trump dismissed the claim, saying « It won’t happen. »
South Korea’s foreign ministry said Mr Trump’s comment, his first mention of the North Korean nuclear issue since the US election in November, could be interpreted as a « clear warning » to the North.
« Because of our active outreach, President-elect Trump and US officials are clearly aware of the gravity and urgency of the North Korean nuclear threat, » ministry spokesman Cho June-hyuck told a briefing.
« They are maintaining an unwavering stance on the need for sanctions on North Korea and for close cooperation between South Korea and the US ».
