China Proposes Halt to U.S. Military Exercises in South Korea at Talks

[HAPPY2BME]

June 22, 2017

Beijing brokering 'dual suspension' of U.S. war games and nuclear, missile tests by Pyongyang

China proposed halting U.S. military exercises with South Korea as part of a nuclear deal with North Korea during high-level talks at the State Department on Wednesday, according to U.S. officials.

The Chinese raised what Beijing calls "dual suspension" of U.S.-South Korean war games and North Korean nuclear and long-range missile tests at the first meeting of the administration's Diplomatic and Security Dialogue, said two officials.

The American side rejected the idea of canceling U.S. military exercises as a tactic tried in the past that was unsuccessful in convincing the North Koreans to give up their nuclear arms programs.

The talks came a day after President Trump cast a shadow over U.S.-China ties by suggesting China had failed to rein in North Korea, a fraternal communist state that maintains close military relations with Beijing.

"While I greatly appreciate the efforts of President Xi & China to help with North Korea, it has not worked out," Trump tweeted. "At least I know China tried!"

In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang defended China's efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear and missile challenge. Geng asserted the problem in dealing with North Korea's nuclear and missile threats does not "lie with the Chinese side," he said.


http://freebeacon.com/national-security/china-proposes-halt-u-s-military-exercises-south-korea-talks/

[HAPPY2BME]

Tillerson, Mattis clarify Trump’s China attack

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Pentagon chief James Mattis have tried to clarify President Donald Trump’s criticism of China over its failure to rein in North Korea.

"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!" Trump wrote in a tweet Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters after meeting with top Chinese officials, however, Tillerson and Mattis said Wednesday that Washington and Beijing were pushing ahead with their cooperation on a number of issues despite Trump’s dissatisfaction.

 “China continues to work these issues,” Mattis told reporters, noting that Trump’s outrage with China “represents the American people’s view of North Korea right now.”

He was referring to the Monday death of Otto Warmbier, a 22-year-old US student who was detained in North Korea in January 2016, and was returned to his parents in Cincinnati last week while comatose.

“What you’re seeing, I think, is the American people’s frustration with a regime that provokes and provokes and provokes and basically plays outside the rules, plays fast and loose with the truth,” Mattis said.

Echoing the same stance was Tillerson, who said Washington and Beijing had agreed on the current strategy and were going to stop trade with Pyongyang under UN sanctions.

“We reaffirmed our commitment to implement in full all relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions. For example, we both agree that our companies should not do business with any U.N.-designated North Korean entities,” said the top US diplomat.

http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2017/06/22/526125/US-Tillerson-Mattis-North-Korea-Trump-China

Trump: China failed to rein in North Korea's nuclear program

North Korea says it will not give up on its nuclear deterrence unless Washington ends its hostile policy toward Pyongyang and dissolves the US-led UN command in South Korea.

On Tuesday, the US State Department urged North Korea to release “as soon as possible” three Americans who are still detained by Pyongyang, following the death of Otto Warmbier.

"We hold North Korea accountable for Otto Warmbier's unjust imprisonment," department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said at a news briefing.

Warmbier was released on June 13 in a state of coma after Joseph Yun, the State Department’s special envoy on North Korea, paid a visit to Pyongyang and demanded his release.

Trump called Warmbier’s death a "total disgrace," adding that the college student might have been alive if he had been brought home sooner.

http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2017/06/21/526027/Trump-China-failed-to-rein-in-North-Korea