US President Donald Trump, interviewed by the Reuters agency on the occasion of his 100 days in the White House, said that a "big, big" conflict with North Korea, due to the Pyongyang's nuclear and missile program it's possible, but that he would prefer a diplomatic solution. "Certainly, there is the possibility of a big, big conflict with North Korea," said the US leader. "We'd like to resolve things through diplomacy, but it's very difficult."
In the interview, Trump said he wanted to make South Korea pay for the cost of the Thaad anti-missile system (one billion dollars), while announced its intention to renegotiate trade agreements with Seoul. Trump then praised Chinese President Xi Jinping for his attempts at mediation with Pyongyang: “He really tries, I think. He doesn't want to see chaos and death. He is a good person, I got to know him well ”.
Before Trump's Reuters interview came out, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson reiterated in some interviews that the US does not exclude a direct dialogue with North Korea to solve the problem of Pyongyang's nuclear program. Tillerson stressed that the diplomatic route is obviously the one we would like to go. But, she warned, Pyongyang must be ready to talk to us about an agenda that includes the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and not just a freeze on its nuclear program.
Meanwhile China has proposed a 'two-track' solution mutually synchronized that points to denuclearization and a peace mechanism for North Korea: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on the sidelines of the UN Security Council meeting. "The promotion of peace talks must be strengthened - he added - Negotiations are the only viable option".
