BEDMINSTER, N.J. — Issuing a new threat to North Korea, President Donald Trump demanded that North Korea “get their act together” or face extraordinary trouble. He said if Pyongyang might have been too soft.
“Maybe that statement wasn’t tough enough,” Trump said on Thursday.
Trump, speaking to reporters from the New Jersey golf resort where he’s vacationing, said North Korea had been “getting away with a tragedy that can’t be allowed.” Still, he declined to say whether the U.S. was considering a pre-emptive military strike, arguing that his administration never discusses such deliberations publicly.
Trump’s comments were his first since North Korea reacted to his “fire and fury” threat by announcing a detailed plan to launch a salvo of ballistic missiles toward the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam, a major military hub and home to U.S. bombers. Trump said it was time that somebody stood up to the pariah nation.
President Trump on his "fire and fury" comments on North Korea: "Maybe it wasn't tough enough."
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics)
“North Korea better get their act together or they are going to be in trouble like few nations have ever been in trouble,” Trump said, flanked by Vice President Mike Pence. “It may very well be tougher than I said.”
Trump said the U.S. “of course” would always consider negotiations with North Korea, but added that negotiations with the North have failed for the last 25 years. He accused his predecessors of failing to effectively address the North Korea problem.
, Trump said if North Korea , it would have reason to be nervous.
“Things will happen to them like they never thought possible, OK?” Trump said. Of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Trump added: “He’s been pushing the world around for a long time.”
Trump’s “fire and fury” comments Tuesday drew concern and swift reaction — and some support — from both Republicans and Democrats.
U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colorado, levied some criticism on the president over his reaction to Kim and his regime’s threats.
“North Korea is racing to pursue its destabilizing and dangerous nuclear program, which threatens our security, including our personnel, partners, and allies in the region,” Bennet said in a written statement. “The United States must have a comprehensive strategy to respond to this dangerous threat that includes clear and sustained diplomatic efforts, backed by economic pressure. This will require deterrence and concerted efforts to work with countries in the region— not reckless tweets that escalate the situation.”
His Republican counterpart from Colorado, U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner, , urged for more economic and diplomatic efforts in dealing with the rising threat, specifically through China.
“We can only negotiate with this rogue regime from a position of strength, and I firmly believe the best option to stop North Korea goes through Beijing,” Gardner said in a statement of his own. “China is responsible for 90 percent of North Korea’s trade, a tenfold increase in the last 15 years. Itap time to hold China accountable for their refusal to shut off trade with North Korea, and if they do not take the necessary steps to help us prevent a nuclear war, it must mean that business as usual is over between the United States and China.”
U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, R- Aurora, said Wednesday morning that he doesn’t necessarily disagree with Trump’s strong language.
“I’m usually not a fan of the president in terms of what I call his ‘impulse behavior,’ ” he told KOA radio in Denver. “… But I think there might be something here.”
.' reckless rhetoric on could further escalate a very precarious situation. Thoughtful strategy & diplomacy is critical.
— Rep. Diana DeGette (@RepDianaDeGette)
Denver Post staff writer Jesse Paul contributed to this report.