N/Korea crisis: South”s leader in plea to avoid war

South Korean President Moon Jae-in has called on his US ally to help prevent a war, amid worsening tension over the North’s nuclear threat. Mr Moon told the visiting top US military official that there must be a diplomatic solution to the crisis. Gen Joseph Dunford said the US priority was diplomacy but he added […]

South Korean President Moon Jae-in has called on his US ally to help prevent a war, amid worsening tension over the North’s nuclear threat.

Mr Moon told the visiting top US military official that there must be a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

Gen Joseph Dunford said the US priority was diplomacy but he added that it was committed to defending the South against a possible military attack.

The North on Monday said any war could “only be turned into a nuclear war”.

Also on Monday, China’s commerce ministry issued an order banning a slew of imports from North Korea, in line with additional UN sanctions that were announced earlier this month.

The sanctions were introduced in response to a wave of missile tests and increased military rhetoric from North Korea.

In another development, Ukraine has denied supplying North Korea with rocket engines from one of its factories.