Mike Pence: It’s time for North Korea to ‘get the message’

Vice President Mike Pence said Monday that it’s time for North Korea to “get the message” on halting its nuclear and ballistic ambitions.

“The time really has come for North Korea to get the message. As the president says, it’s time for them to behave,” the vice president said on CNN’s “New Day.” “My hope is that the wider world and that the leadership in North Korea are listening to what President Trump and the world community are saying.”

Mr. Pence said his visit to the region demonstrates the administration’s commitment to addressing North Korea’s nuclear development.

“We’ve moved into an era where President Trump is absolutely committed to marshaling the energy of the world community, of countries in the Asian Pacific to use economic and diplomatic power to isolate North Korea and achieve the goal of a de-nuclearized Korean peninsula,” Mr. Pence said.

North Korea’s Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Kim In-ryong said Monday that the U.S. was using “gangster-like logic” with the country. But Mr. Pence said the remarks were actually encouraging.

“In some odd way, it’s encouraging that they’re getting the message. My hope is that they’ll continue to get the message not just from the United States, here in Japan, and in South Korea, but on an increasing basis from China and countries all over the world that long ago committed to a de-nuclearized Korean peninsula,” Mr. Pence said.