China urges Trump to avoid exacerbating N Korea tensions

Chinese leader Xi Jinping has urged US President Donald Trump to avoid rhetoric that could inflame tensions with North Korea as an escalating war of words raised global alarm.


Mr Xi made the plea in a phone call hours after Mr Trump ramped up his warnings to Pyongyang, saying the regime would "truly regret" taking hostile action against the United States.

The White House said in a statement that the two leaders "agreed North Korea must stop provocative and escalatory behaviour" and that they are both committed to the denuclearisation of the peninsula.

But the Chinese foreign ministry said Mr Xi urged Mr Trump to avoid "words and deeds" that would "exacerbate" the already-tense situation, exercise restraint and seek a political settlement.

Mr Trump has been engaged all week in verbal sparring with the North over its weapons and missile programmes, as US media reported Pyongyang has successfully miniaturised a nuclear warhead.
 [rte.ie]
12/8/17
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