North Korea Says It Will Wait ‘a Little More’ Before Acting on Guam Threat
In comments to reporters Tuesday morning Japan time, Mr. Abe said
that the two leaders "frankly exchanged opinions on the current North Korean situation," saying he appreciated Mr. Trump’s "commitment to the safety of its allies." Mr. Abe, who has emerged as one of Mr. Trump’s most loyal allies, said that he and Mr. Trump "shared the view that the priority is not to let North Korea launch missiles." Motoko Rich contributed reporting from Tokyo, and Jane Perlez and Chris Buckley from Beijing.
"No one should be allowed to decide on a military action on the Korean Peninsula without South Korean agreement." South Koreans have
grown increasingly concerned in recent days about a possible military conflict following Mr. Trump’s threats against the North.
The statement came as the United States and South Korea were preparing to conduct joint military exercises on the Korean Peninsula
and surrounding waters starting on Monday, despite North Korea’s vehement opposition to such drills.
"The United States military’s priority is to support our government’s efforts to achieve the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula through diplomatic
and economic pressure," General Dunford was quoted as saying in a Korean-language statement released by Mr. Moon’s office after the meeting on Monday.
15, 2017
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea appeared on Tuesday to pause its threat to launch ballistic missiles toward Guam, saying it would wait to assess "the foolish
and stupid conduct" of the United States before carrying the launchings out.
South Korea’s president, Moon Jae-in, on Tuesday offered an unusually blunt rebuke to the Trump administration’s discussions of possible military
responses to the North, saying no country should take military action on the Korean Peninsula without his government’s approval.
