US President Donald Trump says it may take longer than expected to deal with North Korea and its nuclear program but eventually there will be “success”.
"As far as North Korea is concerned, we will have, eventually, success. It may take longer than I’d like. It may take longer than you'd like. But there will be success in the end one way or the other," Trump told Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday as they held talks on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Germany.
Trump also told the Chinese leader that he appreciated actions he had already taken regarding the issue of North Korea.
The Chinese president for his part said that Beijing was committed to resolving the issue through diplomatic means.
Xi underlined the importance of talks with North Korea, and said the Chinese navy will join next year's US-led Pacific Rim military exercises.
North Korea announced on Tuesday it had successfully tested an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which Pyongyang claimed could “reach anywhere in the world.”
US intelligence agencies said the missile was most likely a new ICBM with an estimated range of 5,500 kilometers (3,400 miles), capable of hitting Alaska.
After the test, Trump threatened North Korea with “consequences,” saying he was considering a “severe” response to Pyongyang’s “very bad behavior.”
And, US Defense Secretary James Mattis said the American military "remains ready" for conflict with North Korea following the test.
"I do not believe this capability in itself brings us closer to war because the president's been very clear, the secretary of State's been very clear, that we are leading with diplomatic and economic efforts," Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon on Thursday.
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The Trump administration has repeatedly said in recent months that all options are on the table, and has deployed a strike group and a nuclear-powered submarine to the region in a show of force.
But President Trump has also expressed confidence that the Chinese leadership will help resolve the issue of North Korea, which has threatened the US with a nuclear attack in case of a direct military action.