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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 8 november 2017
Trump abruptly talking negotiations, not threats in Korea

Continued from Front States’ military options,
mentioning that three air-
Ever the showman, Trump craft carrier groups and
teased that he had a sur- a nuclear submarine had
prise in store for Wednes- been deployed to the re-
day, saying at a Tuesday gion. But he said “we hope
evening banquet that he to God we never have to
had an “exciting day” use” the arsenal. And he
planned — “for many rea- accused North Korea’s Kim
sons that people will find Jong Un of “threatening
out.” He did not elaborate. millions and millions of lives,
Overall, the president so needlessly.”
sounded an optimistic note Moon, who has been ea-
on disagreements with the ger to solidify a friendship
North, saying confidently, with Trump, said he hoped
if vaguely: “Ultimately, it’ll the president’s visit would
all work out.” Whether the be a turning point in the
shift in rhetoric signaled a standoff with North Korea.
change in policy or diplo- The president began his
matic strategy remained day with a visit to Camp
uncertain. Humphreys, a joint US-Kore-
Mark Fitzpatrick, executive an military base where he President Donald Trump, left, listens to South Korean President Moon Jae-in during a joint news
director in Washington for shook hands with Ameri- conference at the Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017. President Donald
the International Institute can and Korean service Trump, on his first day on the Korean peninsula, signaled a willingness to negotiate with North
for Strategic Studies, said members and ate lunch Korea to end its nuclear weapons program, urging Pyongyang to “come to the table” and “make
it could simply be Trump with troops in a large mess a deal.” (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
projecting “what he most hall. The visit was intended
recently heard” from Moon to underscore the coun-
and Japan’s Shinzo Abe. tries’ ties and South Korea’s
“I expect he heard from commitment to contribut-
both Prime Minister Abe ing to its own defense.
and President Moon the China is North Korea’s
need to give diplomacy a largest trade partner, and
chance,” Fitzpatrick said. Trump is expected to press
“Of course, it’s not the first its leaders to curtail their
time he has talked about dealings with Pyongyang
engaging with North Ko- and to expel North Korean
rea. The issue has been one workers from its borders.
of timing. Now is a good Trump has praised China
time, during a pause in mis- for adopting tough United
sile testing.” Nations sanctions against
North Korea has fired off North Korea but has urged
more than a dozen missiles it to do more. “I want to
this year but none in nearly just say that President Xi —
two months. But analysts where we will be tomorrow,
caution against reading China — has been very
too much into the pause. helpful. We’ll find out how
There’s no public sign of helpful soon,” Trump said.
any diplomatic progress “But he really has been
between Washington and very, very helpful. So Chi-
Pyongyang. U.S. officials na is out trying very hard
say the back channel be- to solve the problem with
tween the State Depart- North Korea.” Trump and
ment and the North Korean first lady Melania Trump on
mission at the United Na- Wednesday will meet and
tions in New York remains have dinner with Xi Jinping
intact, but contacts have and his wife and receive a
not been substantive oth- private tour of The Forbid-
er than achieving the re- den City, Beijing’s ancient
lease of American college imperial palace. White
student Otto Warmbier in House officials point to the
June. He died days after his leaders’ successful sum-
repatriation to the U.S. mit in Florida this spring, an
Still, Trump’s conciliatory event in part defined by
comments would be wel- Trump telling his Chinese
come in South Korea, counterpart about the mis-
where both the govern- sile strike he had ordered
ment and the wider popu- on Syria while the two men
lation have been unnerved enjoyed chocolate cake.
by the president’s threats But experts in the region
against the North. suggest that Xi will have the
Trump did note the United advantage over Trump.q