Trump urges N Korea to come to table

International Desk: US President Donald Trump has urged North Korea to "come to the table" and discuss giving up its nuclear weapons.

Striking a different tone from previous fiery rhetoric, he said he "hoped to God" he did not have to use the US military against Pyongyang.

Mr Trump was speaking at a press conference with his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in in Seoul, as part of his tour of Asia.

The US leader has previously threatened "fire and fury" against Pyongyang.

He is on a five-nation tour of Asia, where North Korea's nuclear ambitions have been high on his agenda.

At a press conference, Mr Trump and Mr Moon reiterated their call for the North to denuclearise, with Mr Trump saying it "makes sense for North Korea to come to the table", and to "do the right thing, not only for North Korea but for humanity all over the world".

Though the US had deployed a significant military presence in the region, he said he "hoped to God" he would not have to use it against North Korea.

The two leaders also called on China and Russia to put pressure on Pyongyang, and said they were lifting the limit on South Korean missile payloads, which they had agreed to do in September.

Mr Trump also said that South Korea would be ordering "billions of dollars" in military equipment from the US, which he said would reduce their trade deficit.

It was unclear if a deal was already struck, but Mr Moon said they had agreed to "begin consultations on acquisitions" that would enhance South Korea's defence capabilities.

Mr Trump had earlier tweeted that "massive military and energy orders" from Japan were also happening, and claimed on Monday that Japan could shoot down Pyongyang's missiles with US equipment.

Japan's leader Shinzo Abe said earlier that he was considering it.

Source: Agencies



risingbd/Nov 7, 2017/Mukul