Trump: “major conflict” likely with North Korea

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that there is every chance of a “major, major conflict with North Korea,”.

In an exclusive interview with Reuters, the President said that solving things diplomatically would be “very difficult”.

Asked in the Oval office if he thought North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un was rational, Trump replied: “He’s 27 years old, his father dies, took over a regime. So say what you want but that is not easy, especially at that age.”

“I’m not giving him credit or not giving him credit – I’m just saying that’s a very hard thing to do. As to whether or not he’s rational, I have no opinion on it. I hope he’s rational.”

Since the Chinese President’s visit to Florida last month, Trump has suggested there has been a breakthrough in their relationship, as well as China’s readiness to help apply pressure on North Korea. 

“I believe he [the Chinese president] is trying very hard. He certainly doesn’t want to see turmoil and death. He doesn’t want to see it. He is a good man. He is a very good man and I got to know him very well,” said the US President.

“With that being said, he loves China and he loves the people of China. I know he would like to be able to do something, perhaps it’s possible that he can’t.”

Daryl Kimball, the head of the Arms Control Association, welcomed Trump’s readiness for direct talks with North Korea.

“There are some new things here. They are making clear that regime change is not the goal. There is a recognition that North Korea has security concerns,” Kimball said. “I think what we hearing the evening is more of the engagement part of the maximum pressure engagement policy that they are slowly rolling out.”