North Korea crisis: Donald Trump sends nuclear submarines as he ramps up WW3 tensions – Express.co.uk

EPA/ AFP

The US president told his Philippine counterpart Washington had sent two nuclear submarines to waters off the Korean Peninsula.

Donald Trump told Rodrigo Duterte the US has a lot of firepower over there, according to the New York Times which quoted a transcript of an April 29 call between the two.

The US president said: We cant let a madman with nuclear weapons let on the loose like that. We have a lot of firepower, more than he has times 20, but we dont want to use it.

We have a lot of firepower over there. We have two submarines the best in the world we have two nuclear submarines

Donald Trump

We have a lot of firepower over there. We have two submarines the best in the world we have two nuclear submarines not that we want to use them at all.

Ive never seen anything like they are, but we dont have to use this, but he could be crazy so we will see what happens.

The report was based on a Philippine transcript of the call that was circulated under a "confidential" cover sheet by the Americas division of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs.

A senior Trump administration official in Washington, who was not authorised to publicly discuss the call and insisted on anonymity, told the New York Times the transcript was an accurate representation of the call between the two leaders.

Mr Trump has previously said a major, major conflict is possible with North Korea is possible because of its nuclear and missile programmes and that all options are on the table but that he wants to resolve the crisis diplomatically.

AFP/Getty Images

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The ground-to-ground medium-to-long range ballistic missile

North Korea has vowed to develop a missile mounted with a nuclear warhead that can strike the mainland US, saying the programme is necessary to counter US aggression.

In a show of force, the US sent the nuclear-powered USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier to waters off the Korean peninsula, where it joined the USS Michigan, a nuclear submarine that docked in South Korea in late April.

Tensions have escalated on the Korean Peninsula as the North continues to defy UN sanctions over its nuclear missile programme.

GETTY

REUTERS

Earlier today the South Korean military said as unidentified object that flew across the border from North Korea on Tuesday was most likely to have been a balloon carrying propaganda leaflets rather than a drone.

South Korea fired warning shots at the object as it crossed the border, and it disappeared from radar.

North Koreas only ally China has pushed for dialogue with North Korea and the full implementation of UN sanctions over Pyongyang's ballistic missile and nuclear tests, skirting questions about Beijing's talks with the United States on possible new measures.

REUTERS

Almost a month ago Washington began discussions with China on strengthening UN sanctions.

It comes a week after Pyongyang said it launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile which met all technical requirements and could now be mass-produced, although US officials questioned the extent of its progress.

The Security Council first imposed sanctions on Pyongyang in 2006 and ratcheted up the measures in response to five nuclear tests and two long-range missile launches. North Korea is threatening a sixth nuclear test.

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North Korea crisis: Donald Trump sends nuclear submarines as he ramps up WW3 tensions - Express.co.uk