US President Donald Trump has claimed success in isolating North Korea over its nuclear program during a nearly two-week trip to Asia, pointing to a "maximum pressure" campaign along with Japan, South Korea and China.
Trump denounced the strategic patience of past administrations and said the US would not agree to a so-called freeze-for-freeze deal with Pyongyang, under which North Korea would simply freeze its nuclear activities in exchange for concessions.
"Time is running out, and all options are on the table," he said.
Trump also touted his efforts on advancing what he dubs "fair and reciprocal trade" and vowing to "take every trade action necessary" to protect US interests.
"In Asia, our message was clear and well-received: America is here to compete, to do business and to defend our values and our security," he said, providing a run-down of his five-nation tour and tying it to past trips abroad in his first year in office as he sought to advance an America First agenda abroad.
He pointed to business agreements inked in Japan, South Korea and China as well as agreement at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Vietnam to call for reforms at the World Trade Organization.
He said he had a candid conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping about the US trade deficit with China and said the US "can no longer tolerate unfair trading practices that steal American jobs, wealth and intellectual property."
"The days of the United States being taken advantage of are over," he said.
