Phone Conversation Between the Presidents of the United States and China Regarding North Korea

According to China, its President, in a phone conversation on Saturday morning with the President of the United States, called for a peaceful resolution to the nuclear issue of North Korea. According to a statement from the White House, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping urged North Korea to cease its 'provocative and tension-raising behaviors.' The phone conversation between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping had been scheduled in advance; Mr. Trump had stated to reporters on Friday, after issuing new warnings to Pyongyang, that he would discuss North Korea with Mr. Xi. According to a report published by Chinese state television regarding the talks between the two leaders, Xi called for finding a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue of North Korea and urged 'relevant parties' to avoid 'words and actions' that escalate 'tensions.' According to this report, the President of China stated that the interests of both China and the United States require adherence to maintaining peace on the Korean Peninsula and nuclear disarmament. According to a statement released by the White House, the American President and his Chinese counterpart said that North Korea 'must cease its provocative and tension-raising behaviors.' The White House's statement described the new UN Security Council resolution against Pyongyang as 'a necessary and important step towards establishing peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula' and emphasized their commitment to nuclear disarmament in the region. In recent days, Beijing has reacted to the warnings and threats from the President of the United States and North Korea. For example, the Global Times, a newspaper affiliated with the Chinese government, called for 'non-intervention' by China in the event of a preemptive strike by North Korea; it also stated that if such an attack were primarily initiated by the United States and its allies, 'China should prevent it.' Some reports suggest that this editorial serves as a warning to Pyongyang that if it attacks the U.S. or its bases, Beijing would remain neutral. In any case, on Friday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry had urged Washington and Pyongyang to tone down their harsh rhetoric against each other. On the same day, before Mr. Trump spoke with Mr. Xi, the American President emphasized that U.S. weapons are ready to fire at North Korea. These remarks came after Trump stated that perhaps his previous threat of North Korea facing 'fire and fury' was not sufficiently decisive. Meanwhile, the official North Korean news agency also published statements and threats regarding an attack on Guam, even announcing that a plan for this potential attack is being prepared, which will be presented to Kim Jong-un, the leader of that country, in mid-August - three days from now. According to CCTV, China's state television, the American President, in his conversation with his Chinese counterpart, stated that relations between Washington and Beijing 'are developing well.' China is considered North Korea's most important trading partner and is also referred to as Pyongyang's main ally against the United States and its allies, namely South Korea and Japan. Nevertheless, neither China nor Russia opposed the new Security Council sanctions, which were approved following North Korea's intercontinental missile test.