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Nov 2, 2017

McMaster: "We're running out of time" with North Korea

Erica Pandey

McMaster behind the podium at a White House briefing. Photo: Carolyn Kaster / AP

National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster previewed President Trump's 10-day Asia trip Thursday. Trump will tell Asian leaders that North Korea's "pursuit of nuclear weapons is a dead end."

Trump has 3 objectives for his trip to Asia: to call for the denuclearization of North Korea, to advocate for fair trade relationships, to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region, McMaster said.

  • Trump has made 43 calls to Info-Pacific leaders since taking office.
  • "It's in China's interest" to make sure the Korean peninsula is denuclearized.
  • Will Trump use "fire and fury" rhetoric? "The president will use whatever language he wants to use ... I don't think the president really modulates his language. Have you noticed him do that?"
  • Will Trump put North Korea back on the list of state sponsors of terrorism? That's "under consideration."
  • Will Trump condemn authoritarian leaders abroad? "How much does it help to yell about these problems?" The president is "quietly" advancing human rights around the world.
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