President Trump warned there is a chance of “a major, major conflict with North Korea.”
Trump made the comment in an interview with Reuters, published Thursday evening, one day after members of his national security team briefed all 100 senators with an update on the “urgent threat” posed by North Korea’s nuclear weapons program.
Trump added that solving the North Korea problem without armed conflict would be preferable, but that it would not be easy. “We’d love to solve things diplomatically but it’s very difficult,” he told Reuters.
Administration officials have said sanctions are a more likely course of action to press North Korea back to the negotiating table, but also stressed that military strikes are still an option.
North Korea test-fired a missile as recently as earlier this month amid rising tensions with the U.S. and its allies. The missile blew up moments after launch, U.S. defense officials said.
A poll released by Fox News on Thursday showed that 53 percent of respondents favor military action to stop North Korea’s nuclear program.
Trump also told Reuters that he want South Korea to pay the cost of the U.S. THAAD anti-missile defense system being deployed in that country. He estimated the cost to be $1 billion. He also said he is looking to scrap or renegotiate the “horrible” free-trade deal with South Korea.
