Donald Trump says North Korea could have been ‘influenced’ by Xi Jinping to turn on US ahead of talks with Kim Jong-un
North Korea has threatened to pull out of the June 12 talks between Trump and Kim earlier this week, and Trump says he believes Chinese President Xi may be involved
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Chinese President Xi Jinping “could be influencing” North Korean leader Kim Jong-un after Kim’s regime abruptly shifted to a sharp, negative tone this week, calling off a summit with South Korea and threatening to drop a planned June meeting between Trump and Kim.
“If you remember two weeks ago, all of a sudden out of nowhere Kim Jong-un went to China to say hello again – second time – to President Xi,” Trump told reporters during an Oval Office meeting with Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, referring to a May 8 meeting between the leaders.
“It could very well be that he’s influencing Kim Jong-un. We’ll see what happens. Meaning the President of China, President Xi, could be influencing,” Trump said.
Trump’s remarks came the day after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged the US to remain calm over North Korea’s about-face.
During an official visit to Paris, Wang said that “all parties, especially the United States, should cherish this opportunity for peace and should not work as a barrier”.