'This man will not get away with what he's doing': Trump reiterates North Korea threats
US President Donald Trump has elaborated on his social media threat that military options against North Korea were "locked and loaded", saying he hopes that Kim Jong-un "fully understand the gravity of what he said".
On Friday, Trump tweeted: "Military solutions are now fully in place, locked and loaded, should North Korea act unwisely. Hopefully Kim Jong Un will find another path!"
Later the same day he spoke to reporters form his golf course in New Jersey saying Kim would "regret it and regret it fast" if he attacks the US air bases in Guam or any of America's allies.
"I hope that they are going to fully understand the gravity of what I said and what I said is what I mean, so hopefully they'll understand exactly what I said ant the meaning of those words," he told reporters.
Donald Trump speaking to reporters on Friday pictured with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, left, and US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley. Photo: AP
He said of Kim: “this man will not get away with what he’s doing, believe me”.
Trump said he will speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday night about the "very dangerous" situation regarding North Korea.
"Hopefully, it will all work out," Trump told reporters at his New Jersey golf resort.
"Nobody loves a peaceful solution better than President Trump that I can tell you."
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has criticised Mr Trump’s inflammatory language towards North Korea, saying “I consider an escalation of rhetoric the wrong answer”.
“I do not see a military solution to this conflict,” she added.
The US President's Twitter missive ratcheted up his already bellicose rhetoric with Kim over North Korea's weapons program, as Beijing appealed to the two leaders to dampen their fiery exchange.
A day prior Trump had hardened his warning that Pyongyang would face "fire and fury" if it kept threatening the United States, saying maybe his tough talk "wasn't tough enough."
Trump also warned North Korea it should be "very, very nervous" of the consequences if it even thinks of attacking US soil, after Pyongyang said it was readying plans to launch missiles towards the Pacific territory of Guam.
Pyongyang said the scheme to target the island, a key US military outpost in the western Pacific, was intended to "signal a crucial warning" as "only absolute force" would have an effect on a US leader "bereft of reason".
President Trump has escalated the rhetoric against Kim Jong-un in recent days. Source: AAP
Beijing on Friday pleaded with the US and North Korea for restraint, urging the two parties "to be cautious with their words and actions."
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China has repeatedly urged a resumption of long-dormant six-party talks to peacefully resolve the crisis, but its position has been overshadowed by the emerging brinkmanship between Trump and Kim.
Politicians from both sides of American politics have criticised Trump's approach to the conflict
