Xi urges peaceful resolution of N Korea tensions in Trump call

BEIJING: Chinese leader Xi Jinping has urged Donald Trump to peacefully resolve tensions over North Korea's nuclear programme, as the US president touted the power of a naval "armada" steaming towards the Korean peninsula, reports AFP.
China's foreign ministry said Wednesday the two leaders had spoken by phone, days after Trump sent the aircraft carrier-led strike group to the region in a show of force ahead of a possible nuclear test.
The deployment was followed by a renewed warning that Washington was ready to take on North Korea alone if Beijing declined to help rein in its maverick neighbour's nuclear ambitions.
Pyongyang has issued a defiant response, saying it was ready to fight "any mode of war" chosen by the United States and even threatening a nuclear strike against US targets.
The sabre-rattling has unnerved China, which has made clear its frustration with Pyongyang's stubbornness but whose priority remains preventing any military flare-up that could bring chaos and instability to its doorstep.
In the call, Xi stressed that China "advocates resolving the issue through peaceful means," the foreign ministry said.
On Tuesday, the US president tweeted that "North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! U.S.A."
A barrage of recent North Korean missile tests has stoked US fears that Pyongyang may soon develop an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the US mainland.
There is speculation that the country could be preparing a missile launch, or even another nuclear test, to mark the 105th birthday anniversary of its founder Kim Il-Sung on Saturday.
In an interview with Fox Business Network, Trump warned: "We are sending an armada. Very powerful."
"We have submarines. Very powerful. Far more powerful than the aircraft carrier."
The flotilla includes the Nimitz-class aircraft supercarrier USS Carl Vinson, a carrier air wing, two guided-missile destroyers and a guided-missile cruiser.
"This goes to prove that the US reckless moves for invading the DPRK have reached a serious phase," a spokesman for the North's foreign ministry said in response.

Xi urges peaceful resolution of N Korea tensions in Trump call

BEIJING: Chinese leader Xi Jinping has urged Donald Trump to peacefully resolve tensions over North Koreas nuclear programme, as the US president touted the power of a naval armada steaming towards the Korean peninsula, reports AFP. Chinas foreign ministry said Wednesday the two leaders had spoken by phone, days after Trump sent the aircraft carrier-led strike group to the region in a show of force ahead of a possible nuclear test. The deployment was followed by a renewed warning that Washington was ready to take on North Korea alone if Beijing declined to help rein in its maverick neighbours nuclear ambitions. Pyongyang has issued a defiant response, saying it was ready to fight any mode of war chosen by the United States and even threatening a nuclear strike against US targets. The sabre-rattling has unnerved China, which has made clear its frustration with Pyongyangs stubbornness but whose priority remains preventing any military flare-up that could bring chaos and instability to its doorstep. In the call, Xi stressed that China advocates resolving the issue through peaceful means, the foreign ministry said. On Tuesday, the US president tweeted that North Korea is looking for trouble. If China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! U.S.A. A barrage of recent North Korean missile tests has stoked US fears that Pyongyang may soon develop an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the US mainland. There is speculation that the country could be preparing a missile launch, or even another nuclear test, to mark the 105th birthday anniversary of its founder Kim Il-Sung on Saturday. In an interview with Fox Business Network, Trump warned: We are sending an armada. Very powerful. We have submarines. Very powerful. Far more powerful than the aircraft carrier. The flotilla includes the Nimitz-class aircraft supercarrier USS Carl Vinson, a carrier air wing, two guided-missile destroyers and a guided-missile cruiser. This goes to prove that the US reckless moves for invading the DPRK have reached a serious phase, a spokesman for the Norths foreign ministry said in response.