China welcomes US refusal to use ‘maximum pressure’ against N. Korea

Beijing has welcomed a refusal by US authorities to use the term “maximum pressure” against North Korea, TASS reported. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying on Tuesday described as “right” Washington’s statement that it will no longer use this term to describe the campaign to press North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons. China hopes that both the US and North Korea will maintain “the positive consensus” reached during recent consultations, and concentrate efforts on preparing for the summit between the countries’ leaders, she added. The White House said on Monday that its policy of tough sanctions on North Korea has not changed, days after US President Donald Trump said he no longer wanted to use the phrase “maximum pressure.”