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Maybe ‘fire and fury’ statement on North Korea wasn’t tough enough


President Donald Trump speak to the press on August 10, 2017, at Trump's Bedminster National Golf Club in New Jersey before a security briefing.

Nicholas Kamm | AFP | Getty Images

President Donald Trump speak to the press on August 10, 2017, at Trump’s Bedminster National Golf Club in New Jersey before a security briefing.

The remarks continue a series of aggressive exchanges between Trump and the North Korean regime in rhetoric more forceful than U.S. presidents typically use. As tensions escalate and Pyongyang keeps developing its nuclear and missile programs int he face of international opposition, Trump and other world leaders face a set of limited and difficult options to respond.

On Tuesday, Trump strongly warned Pyongyang against threatening the United States in a reportedly improvised line.

“North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States,” Trump told reporters, speaking slowly and deliberately with his arms crossed in front of him. “They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen. He has been very threatening … and as I said they will be met with fire, fury and frankly power, the likes of which this world has never seen before.”

North Korea’s state media responded by saying the country was considering a plan to attack the U.S. territory of Guam. It also called Trump’s statement “nonsense” and said only “absolute force” can work on him.

Trump’s comment followed reports that Pyongyang had successfully miniaturized a nuclear weapon. It marks a major step in the country’s nuclear ambitions.

North Korea has continued its aggression and missile tests in the face of economic sanctions. The most recent round was unanimously approved by the U.N. Security Council on Saturday.

Trump also contended “there are no mixed messages” coming out of his administration on North Korea. Some aides had reportedly said not to read too far into the president’s “fire and fury” comments.

“I think what the president was just reaffirming is that the United States has the capability to fully defend itself from any attack, and our allies, and we will do so,” Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Tuesday.

Trump added that he believes the latest sanctions on North Korea may not accomplish as much as some would hope. China, Pyongyang’s only major ally, “can” and “will” do a lot more to keep the isolated regime in check, the president said.

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