19 August, 2017
Concern that North Korea is close to achieving its goal of putting the mainland United States within range of a nuclear weapon has underpinned a spike in tensions in recent months.
"[Mr Kim] said that if the Yankees persist in their extremely unsafe, reckless actions on the Korean peninsula and in its vicinity, testing the self-restraint of the DPRK, the latter will make an important decision as it already declared, warning the USA that it should think reasonably and judge properly not to suffer shame that it is hit by the DPRK again".
Trump has pushed China, North Korea's biggest economic partner and source of aid, to do more to stop the North's nuclear ambitions.
North Korea has been increasingly sensitive to the exercises lately because they reportedly include training for "decapitation strikes" to kill Kim Jong Un and his top lieutenants.
With few options at his command, Moon has been encouraging Washington to talk directly to Pyongyang to resolve differences, according to senior officials and advisers to the president.
He said he would consider sending a special envoy to North Korea for talks if the North stops its missile and nuclear tests.
Last week, a USA destroyer sailed near a man-made island constructed by China as part of a "freedom of navigation" operation the United States conducted in a challenge to Beijing's territorial claims. But, in contrast, one week earlier, Vice President Mike Pence told The Wall Street Journal that the right strategy doesn't involve "engaging North Korea directly".
To that end, China has arranged a series of important meetings and visits to help Dunford "know more about our military, (boost) our co-operation and build up our friendship", Fang said.
But there seems little likelihood of dialogue at this point.
"We are seeking a peaceful resolution to the crisis", Dunford, who also met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, said to reporters, according to a local pool report. But within days, Trump warned Pyongyang would meet fire and fury if it threatened the United States.
The President was making an annual speech to commemorate the 72nd anniversary of the nation's liberation from Japanese military rule that began in 1910 and ended in 1945. He also holds a news conference on Thursday to mark his 100th day in office.
North Korea this week has detailed its plan to test-launch ballistic missiles into waters near the U.S. Pacific territory.
Rex Tillerson has had to make several tricky diplomatic tours since becoming USA secretary of state. The Seoul metropolitan area is home to 25 million people.
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis warned on Monday that the US military would be prepared to intercept a missile fired by North Korea if it was headed to Guam, while North Korean leader Kim Jong Un alerted his army that it should always be fire-ready.
He filled his national security team with several key players of that time, naming them to the posts of prime minister, spy chief and unification minister.
But a week later, Trump shared a Tweet, writing: "Kim Jong Un of North Korea made a very wise and well reasoned decision".
"In the present context, Moon is more focused on reassuring his domestic population that war will be averted", Easley said.
Less than six years into his reign, Kim has tested more missiles than his father and grandfather combined, conducted three nuclear tests, and is racing to develop a nuclear-tipped missile that can hit the US mainland.
The Moon administration's evaluation of the situation on the peninsula "was quite naïve", said Kim Dong-yub, an analyst at the Institute for Far Eastern Studies at Kyungnam University in Seoul.
Even worse for Moon, some United States officials have signaled that they'd be willing to tolerate collateral damage in Seoul to protect the American homeland from a nuclear attack. Sen.
