Beijing Probably Counts Tillerson’s China Trip as a Success
- China has long urged U.S. and North Korea to speak directly
- Tillerson said U.S. has direct channels to Pyongyang
Trump Talks Down Tillerson's North Korea Outreach
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U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s visit to China ended with an awkward public rebuke from his president for raising the prospect of talks with North Korea. But for Beijing the trip probably counted as a success.
Tillerson’s 12 hours on the ground in Beijing saw him called out by Donald Trump after he revealed the U.S. had direct channels to Pyongyang -- and was using them. Trump has said previously the time for dialogue with North Korea has passed, threatened to destroy the regime if provoked and warned that military action remains an option.