President Trump thanked China on Saturday for its work to mitigate North Korean aggression, a notable turn from his recent complaints about China’s efforts, and predicted success on the issue “one way or the other.”
Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the tail-end of the G-20 summit in Hamburg, Germany, where the U.S. leader exclaimed that the two “developed a wonderful relationship.”
At the beginning of their remarks, Trump expressed his gratitude to Xi for China’s efforts to curb North Korea’s nuclear and missile-testing activity. “I appreciate the things that you have done relative to the very substantial problem that we all face in North Korea, a problem that something has to be done about,” Trump said.
“It may take longer than I’d like, it may take longer that you’d like,” he said, adding “but there will be success in the end one way or the other,” according to a White House press pool report.
North Korea test fired what the Pentagon said was an intercontinental ballistic missile on Tuesday, sparking a fresh wave of international condemnation and push for sanctions. The U.S. and regional allies have since conducted joint military exercises.
The Trump administration has been putting pressure on China to leverage its influence over North Korea to convince it to cool down its military aspirations, but expressed frustration this week noting an increase in trade between the two countries.
“I think we’ll just take a look at what happens over the coming weeks and months with respect to North Korea,” Trump tweeted before departing Washington, D.C., for Hamburg. “It’s a shame that they’re behaving this way, but they are behaving in a very, very dangerous manner, and something will have to be done about it.”
He did, however, hint that he could use the issue of trade to convince China to change its mind.
“The United States made some of the worst Trade Deals in world history. Why should we continue these deals with countries that do not help us?,” he also tweeted.
Trade did come up at Trump and Xi’s meeting Saturday.
“Trade as you know is a very very big issue for the United States” Trump said, according to the pool report. Xi’s remarks weren’t immediately available in English because translation headphone were not provided to American press.
Trump also discussed the “menace” of North Korea with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Saturday.
