China Putting Pressure on North Korea, Haley Says

US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said Monday that China is helping to put pressure on North Korea to prevent further tests of intercontinental ballistic missiles and nuclear warheads. Speaking on NBC’s Today show, Haley said, “China has been considerably helpful in putting pressure” on Kim Jong Un, the North Korean supreme leader, who she said is “starting to flex his muscles because he’s feeling the pressure.” Haley was referring to several recent North Korean actions, including a failed ICBM test earlier this month, verbal threats from Pyongyang against a US carrier in the region, and the unexplained detention of a US citizen as he sought to depart North Korea on Saturday. “You’re starting to see him get very paranoid,” Haley said, though she dismissed the need for further US action at the moment. “We are not going to do anything unless he gives us reason.” When pressed to articulate what sort of provocation might lead to US military action, Haley said, “if you see him attack a military base, if you see some sort of intercontinental ballistic missile, then obviously we’re going to do that.” In such a case, she said, “I think then the President steps in and decides what’s going to happen.”