Just before President Donald Trump visited South Korea, the country’s media expressed concerns over the possibility of the U.S. taking a unilateral military action against North Korea.
On Tuesday, Trump met with the president of South Korea, Moon Jae-in to discuss a possible solution to North Korea’s nuclear issue. This significantly increased fears of a potential nuclear standoff on the Korean peninsula. However, the president abandoned his usual threatening rhetoric and told reporters: “Ultimately it will all work out, it always works out, it has to work out,” without further elaborating.
Trump also commended president Moon for his “great cooperation” even though the two disagree on how to oppose North Korea. There are also differences concerning a trade agreement between South Korea and the U.S. which Trump said he hoped would work out “so that we create a lot of jobs in the United States which is one of the reasons that I’m here.” Trump previously threatened to withdraw from the trade agreement.
The United States recently conducted military drills over the Korean Peninsula, and officials say three U.S. aircraft carrier strike groups are to continue these exercises. This exasperated Pyongyang and greatly increases the risks in the challenge between the U.S. and North Korea.
During his visit to Asia Trump will make efforts to increase pressure on North Korea. Prior to his trip to South Korea, the president visited Japan where he suggested that should Japan purchase U.S. weaponry, it could shoot North Korean missiles “out of the sky,” a strategy avoided by Japan thus far.
North Korean media has remained silent regarding Trumps visit to South Korea. Pyongyang has not conducted a missile test in over 50 days and some speculate that it might be preparing to do so, timing it for President Trump’s visit to the region.
Trump will not go to the demilitarized zone on the border between South and North Korea, which may be perceived as a provocation toward North Korea.
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