An analysis piece in Thursday's New York Times says some experts believe U.S. President Donald Trump may be putting too much confidence in China to exert influence on North Korea.

The Times says Trump’s gambled on his calculation that Chinese President Xi Jinping could put heavy pressure on North Korea to curb its nuclear weapons and missile programs. 

To secure Xi’s cooperation, President Trump soft-pedaled his harsh stance on China’s trade practices and said little about its aggressive posture and land reclamation in the South China Sea.

However, the report cites a growing number of Trump’s aides who fear the bet is not paying off and that China is not significantly stepping up pressure on its historical ally.

The Times says the administration may be left with little choice but to try negotiating with North Korea’s leaders, adding this approach did not work for Trump’s predecessors.

White House officials are expected to raise the issue of North Korea with their Chinese counterparts during a high-level meeting in Washington scheduled for Wednesday. 

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