As the Group of 20 summit in Hamburg, Germany, wrapped up, Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping to talk trade and about North Korea. It was the second time the two leaders have met in person, the first being the “citrus summit” earlier this year at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. “Something has to be done about it,” Trump said Saturday, also referring to Pyongyang as “the problem and menace.”
Trump has become increasingly frustrated with China’s role in negotiating an end to North Korea’s missile and nuclear programs. Despite international sanctions placed on Pyongyang, China still trades heavily with North Korea. It was a main issue at the Florida meeting in April, in which Trump called Xi a “good man” and the two appeared to hit it off. After that meeting Trump’s rhetoric toward China calmed, but as North Korea has fired more missiles, most recently an intercontinental ballistic missile that some experts say could reach Alaska and parts of the U.S. West Coast, Trump’s angry tone has returned.
Late last month, Trump said efforts to get China to negotiate with North Korea had “not worked out” and that trade between the Pyongyang and Beijing had increased. “So much for China working with us, ” the President tweeted. He has also alluded to possible military action.
While I greatly appreciate the efforts of President Xi & China to help with North Korea, it has not worked out. At least I know China tried!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 20, 2017