White House says Trump, Xi agree on 'maximizing pressure' on North Korea

RFE/RL
Wed, 20 Sep 2017 18:34 UTC

© Reuters

Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) and U.S. President Donald Trump

The White House says U.S. President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping committed to "maximizing pressure on North Korea" amid an escalating crisis over Pyongyang's ballistic and nuclear tests.

The White House said the two leaders discussed "North Korea's continued defiance of the international community and its efforts to destabilize Northeast Asia," in a phone conversation on September 18.

Trump is in New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly but Xi -- who has a major Communist Party congress that will cement his leadership for the next five years -- has skipped the event.

The Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported that the two also discussed Trump's upcoming visit to China.

"Xi said China and the United States share extensive common interests and have seen sound momentum of exchanges and cooperation in various areas at present," the report said.

Trump has been pressing Xi to use his influence to help rein in North Korea.

Comment: North Korea has warned that the more sanctions pursued by the US and its allies, the more quickly it will complete its nuclear force, official state news agency KCNA reports.

The latest sanctions represent "the most vicious, unethical and inhumane act of hostility to physically exterminate the people of the DPRK, let alone its system and government," a foreign ministry spokesman said, as cited by Reuters.

The most recent UN sanctions include capping crude oil supplies to North Korea at present levels and reductions in other commodities. They also include banning textile imports.