President Trump, when campaigning last year, said America had not been tough enough on China. His meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday is a great opportunity for such toughness.

United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley spoke aptly this week about pressuring China to pull its weight in controlling North Korea. The nuclear-armed hermit tyranny continues to starve its people and threaten not just its neighbors but also, increasingly, countries farther afield. China is uniquely positioned to push President Kim Jong-un if not toward being reasonable — that would be too much to hope for — at least toward a position of self-preserving acquiescence to international norms.