"The time for talk is over" on North Korea, so the United States isn't planning to call a United Nations Security Council meeting for discussion of the country's latest ICBM launch, US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley says. In a statement, Haley said there would be no point holding such a session if it produces "nothing of consequence." She said Pyongyang is already subject to plenty of international sanctions that it flouts with impunity, and adding yet another toothless resolution would be "worse than nothing because it sends the message to the North Korean dictator that the international community is unwilling to seriously challenge him," the BBC reports.
"China must decide whether it is finally willing to take this vital step," Haley said, On Saturday, President Trump slammed China for "doing NOTHING for us" with regard to North Korea. Chinese government adviser Victor Gao fired back at those remarks Monday, accusing Trump of acting like a "spoiled child." Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Monday that he had spoken with Trump and agreed to move toward taking action against North Korea, reports Reuters. The White House confirmed that Trump had reaffirmed "our ironclad commitment" to use the "full range of United States capabilities" to protect Japan and South Korea from attack. (US bombers made a show of strength on Sunday.)