Anchor: U.S. President Donald Trump has hinted that he would intensify economic and diplomatic pressure against North Korea rather than use a military option. He added, however, that previous diplomatic efforts have failed to stop Pyongyang from developing its missiles.
Alannah Hill has this report.
 
Report: During a news conference with the emir of Kuwait at the White House on Thursday, Trump said that military action against North Korea is an option, but one that he would rather not use.
 
[Sound bite: U.S. President Donald Trump]
"Military action would certainly be an option. Is it inevitable? Nothing is inevitable. It would be great if something else could be worked out. We would have to look at all of the details, all of the facts. But, we've had presidents for 25 years, now they have been talking, talking talking and the day after an agreement is reached, new work begins in North Korea, continuation on nuclear. So, I would prefer not going the route of the military, its something certainly that could happen. Our military has never been stronger."

After speaking to Chinese President Xi Jinping on the phone on Wednesday, Trump reaffirmed the position that he would use other means of pressure against Pyongyang rather than military actions.
 
Trump said that Xi wants to do something and the U.S. will see whether or not he can do it, hinting his intent to use China as leverage to increase diplomatic and economic pressure on the North.
 
The U.S. government appears to have decided to seek stepped-up pressure against the North through cooperation with other countries amid growing criticism of Trump's strong rhetoric and threats of military actions.
 
However, Trump did not completely stop his warnings against the North. Cautioning that he hopes for a non-military solution, he said it would be "a very sad day" for North Korea if military action had to be used. 
Alannah Hill, KBS World Radio News. 

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