Diplomatic ripples continue from the DPRK’s nuclear test

World Today

The U.S. is consulting with its allies following the DPRK’s latest test.

CGNT’s Toby Muse reports.
Follow Toby Muse on Twitter @tobymuse

The diplomatic ripples continue from this weekend’s nuclear test by the DPRK.

U.S. President Donald Trump spoke to world leaders Monday in the wake of the DPRK’s weekend nuclear test.

Following a phone call between the president and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the White House said the two leaders “condemned… (Pyongyang’s) continued reckless and dangerous behavior.”

In another call, President Trump and his counterpart in the Republic of Korea, Moon Jae-in, agreed to lift restrictions on the ROK’s missile payload capabilities.

The White House also gave “conceptual approval” for the “purchase of many billions of dollars’ worth of military weapons and equipment from the United States.”

In a statement, “The two leaders agreed to maximize pressure on North Korea using all means at their disposal.”

It’s a show of solidarity after the DPRK’s nuclear test over the weekend. Yet, tensions remain even between the allies. Trump chided Seoul over the weekend, accusing the Republic of Korea of appeasing Pyongyang.

The U.S. has also been dwelling on the threat Trump made to stop trading with any country that trades with the DPRK. Trump aired the thought on Twitter over the weekend.

Many observers don’t think this will happen as China is the largest trading partner with both the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the U-S.

China issued its own condemnation of the DPRK’s test but also suggested it didn’t appreciate the trade threat.

“We hope all parties can work with China toward the same goal. What is definitely unacceptable to us is that on the one hand we work so hard to peacefully resolve this issue, and on the other hand our interests are sanctioned and jeopardized. This should not be the case and this is not fair,” Ministry of foreign Affairs spokesman Geng Shuang said.