President Donald Trump said that North Korea is a threat to the civilized world and promised that the U.S. would not stand for Pyongyang menacing America or its allies. While in Japan, Trump denounced efforts by the previous American administration led by President Barack Obama to manage North Korea. According to Trump, the era of strategic patience was over, the Associated Press reported.
The president didn’t rule out military action against North Korea and urged Kim Jong-un to cease weapons testing.
“Some people say my rhetoric is very strong but look what has happened with very weak rhetoric in last 25 years,” said Trump and stated that North Korea jeopardized international peace and stability.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that all options were on the table when dealing with Kim Jong-un. Abe used the opportunity to announce new sanctions against several dozen North Koreans. Trump and Abe met families of Japanese citizens snatched by North Korean agents. Trump said the abductions were a tremendous disgrace and promised to work to return the missing ones.
“We’ve just heard the very sad stories about family members — daughters, wives, brothers uncles, fathers – it’s a very, very sad number of stories that we’ve heard,” Trump said.
North Korea has acknowledged apprehending 13 Japanese in the 1970s and 1980s, but claims they all died or have been released, even though the Japanese government insists many more were taken and that some may still be alive. Trump said that it would be a tremendous signal if North Korea returned the captives. He also said that at this moment, the U.S. and Japan were closer than ever.
“The relationship is really extraordinary. We like each other and our countries like each other. And I don’t think we’ve ever been closer to Japan than we are right now,” Trump said.
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