by Itunuoluwa Adebo

President Trump has issued China with an ultimatum that if it fails to put pressure on North Korea to disable its nuclear program, the US is prepared to take action against them on its own.

“Well, if China is not going to solve North Korea, we will,” the president said in an interview with Financial Times published Sunday.

When asked how he would tackle the issue with North Korea, he said: “I’m not going to tell you. You know, I am not the United States of the past where we tell you where we are going to hit in the Middle East.”

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Trump is expected to host the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, this Thursday and Friday at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where both leaders are expected to discuss North Korea, China’s ambitions in the South China Sea and trade.

President Trump also said he had “great respect” for Xi and “great respect for China”, adding: “I would not be at all surprised if we did something that would be very dramatic and good for both countries and I hope so.”

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Concerning North Korea, he said: “China has great influence over North Korea. And China will either decide to help us with North Korea, or they won’t. And if they do that will be very good for China, and if they don’t it won’t be good for anyone.”

Trump said: “I think trade is the incentive. It is all about trade.” When asked what he thought could motivate China to help

Itunuoluwa