The U.S. 'Cools' Its Rhetoric On North Korea And Not To 'Upset' China

CNN: Pentagon cools North Korea, China rhetoric to avoid warmongering label


Washington (CNN)There is a quiet effort underway to tone down any military rhetoric that could lead to North Korea viewing the Pentagon as warmongering, several US military officials have told CNN.

At the same time, the Pentagon is trying to lower its public profile regarding Navy ship transits through the South China Sea, which have provoked Chinese ire, as part of an overall administration effort to improve relations with Beijing so that it pressures Pyongyang to curb its nuclear weapons program.

The strategy comes in the wake of contradictory statements by President Donald Trump on his policy toward North Korea and growing tensions in the region over its nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities.

He warned of the possibility of a "major, major conflict" with Pyongyang at the end of April, and then days later said he would be willing to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to defuse tensions.

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WNU Editor: I can understand why the White House has not permitted the US Navy to conduct its "freedom of navigation" drills in the South China Sea .... they want the Chinese to focus on North Korea and to not use the excuse of these US navy drills as a diversion. As for the U.S. cooling its rhetoric on North Korea .... I suspect that the reason why this was done was to calm South Korean fears on where all of this talk was heading to .... especially in view of the South Korea presidential election that is now underway.