Trump invites Philippine counterpart to Washington

US President Donald Trump has invited his Philippine counterpart Rodrigo Duterte to the White House to discuss Washington-Manila relations and the standoff over North Korea.

Trump invited Duterte in a phone call on Saturday, according to a White House readout of the conversation.

"It was a very friendly conversation, in which the two leaders discussed the concerns of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regarding regional security, including the threat posed by North Korea," said the readout.

Trump said he would travel to the Philippines in November to take part in the East Asia Summit and the US-ASEAN Summit.

The two leaders also discussed the Philippine government’s war on drugs, a campaign that has so far led to the deaths of thousands of people.

According to Human Rights Watch, Philippine police and unidentified gunmen have killed over 7,000 suspected drug users and dealers since Duterte took office in June 2016.

In 2016, then-President Barack Obama criticized Duterte's drug-fighting policy, but the Philippine leader shrugged off the criticism.

During a press conference, he said, "Mr. Obama, you can go to hell ... I am the president of a sovereign country, and I am not answerable to anyone except the Filipino people."

According to the White House, Trump and Duterte will also discuss North Korea whose missile and nuclear tests in recent months have increased tensions in the region.

North Korea, which is under a raft of sanctions, says it is developing arms as deterrence against the US.

Pyongyang says it will not abandon its missile and nuclear programs unless the US ends its hostility toward the country.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk