Trump says military options on N. Korea not 'first choice' | NK News
NK News Logo
October 18, 2026Oct 18, 2026

Weapon Directory

News

Trump says military options on N. Korea not ‘first choice’

U.S. President implies Xi Jinping is taking action on North Korea

U.S. President Donald Trump said military options against North Korea were not Washington’s “first choice”, following a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday.

While Trump did not rule out military intervention, the comments were calmer than his assertion in August that North Korean threats against the U.S. would be met with “fire and fury”, amid escalating tensions with the DPRK.

The two leaders discussed the DPRK following its successful sixth nuclear test on Sunday. The country’s state media claimed it detonated a hydrogen bomb which could be mounted on an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

“Certainly that’s