US President Donald Trump says China has failed to persuade North Korea to rein in its nuclear program, ratcheting up the rhetoric after an American student detained by Pyongyang died days after his release.
Trump has been seeking greater cooperation from China to put pressure on its ally North Korea.
Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping had a high-profile summit in Florida in April, where Trump said he hoped Xi would help resolve the North Korean standoff.
“While I greatly appreciate the efforts of President Xi & China to help with North Korea, it has not worked out. At least I know China tried!” Trump wrote in a tweet.
It was unclear whether Trump’s remark represented a shift in US policy toward China or he was simply expressing frustration with North Korea.
“I think the president is signaling some frustration,” former US ambassador to South Korea Christopher Hill told MSNBC. “He’s signaling to others that he understands this isn’t…