As tensions continue to rise over nuclear threats, President Trump issued a stern warning to North Korea Wednesday during a speech to the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea.
Standing just south of Kim Jong Un’s border in Seoul, Trump warned the United States is not to be tried or tested.
“America does not seek conflict or confrontation, but we will never run from it,” Trump said. “The regime has interpreted America’s past restraint as weakness. This would be a fatal miscalculation. This is a very different administration than the United States has had in the past.”
“Today, I hope I speak not only for our countries, but for all civilized nations, when I say to the North: Do not underestimate us, and do not try us. We will defend our common security, our shared prosperity, and our sacred liberty,” he continued.
Trump also slammed the North Korean regime over human rights abuses, giving credit to South Korea for giving people a better, freer way of life.
“The horror of life in North Korea is so complete that citizens pay bribes to government officials to have themselves exported aboard as slaves. They would rather be slaves than live in North Korea,” he said. “It is a tale of one people, but two Koreas. One Korea in which the people took control of their lives and their country, and chose a future of freedom and justice, of civilization, and incredible achievement. And another Korea in which leaders imprison their people under the banner of tyranny, fascism, and oppression.”
“We dream of a Korea that is free, a peninsula that is safe, and families that are reunited once again,” Trump continued.
Trump reiterated his stance on Twitter.
NoKo has interpreted America's past restraint as weakness. This would be a fatal miscalculation. Do not underestimate us. AND DO NOT TRY US. pic.twitter.com/4llqLrNpK3
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 8, 2017
President Trump is now in China and had dinner with Chinese President Xi in the Forbidden City. Tomorrow, he will participate in a full slate of meetings with Xi. There’s no doubt the issue of North Korea’s continued provocation will be a main topic of discussion, in addition to the economic partnership between China and the United States.