Controversial missile defense shield now operational in South Korea

While Beijing lashed out at the shield’s deployment, the foreign ministry expressed support for US President Donald Trump’s surprise comments that he would be “honored” to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un under the right conditions.

Trump’s comment about meeting Kim comes as tensions have risen in recent months between the United States and North Korea as Pyongyang has sought to advance its nuclear and ballistic missile programs and Washington has made a show of force in the region to deter their use.

However, the White House was more reluctant to see the meeting in any near future, with spokesman Sean Spicer saying, “Clearly conditions are not there right now”.

Moon’s Democratic Party is now 20 points clear of its nearest rival, according to the most recent Gallup Korea daily opinion poll.

“This legislation gives the administration powerful new tools to protect the US and our allies from the threat of North Korean nuclear missiles by going after those who enable the regime’s aggression”, said House Foreign Affairs Chair Ed Royce, the bill’s co-sponsor.

Trump made the remark in an interview with Bloomberg News on Monday, arguing that he would “absolutely” be willing to meet with Kim if such a meeting takes place “under the right circumstances”.

“Geng said Washington and Pyongyang need to take concrete actions toward peace”.

North Korea reacted angrily to the latest military exercise, accusing the United States of risking a nuclear war. “I’ll talk to anybody”, Trump said at the time.

Asked about Trump’s suggestion he could meet Kim, Geng said China had noted USA comments that it wanted to use peaceful means to resolve the issue.

The political scientist, who is a leading authority on dictatorships, said attacking North Korea would not have an “upside” for Mr Trump and would only lead to danger. It has been conducting such tests at an unprecedented rate and is believed to have made progress in developing intermediate-range and submarine-launched missiles.

The country tested a missile able to hit its southern neighbor on Friday that detonated minutes after it was shot off – but several USA officials told NBC News the dictatorship still considers botched rockets a success.

Then-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was the last top USA official to meet with a North Korean leader. “The last remaining huge gulag in the world today resides in North Korea”.

In September, the service put on a similar show of force over South Korea, deploying B-1B bombers alongside South Korean fighter jets after another nuclear test from North Korea.

The North’s nuclear and ballistic missile development already threatens South Korea and Japan, and within years could put the USA mainland within striking range.

Under an agreement reached with the Obama administration, South Korea offers the land and facilities for THAAD but not the cost of operations.