Hanoi, Nov. 12 (TNS): An ugly war of words breaks out between US President and North Korean.
Donald Trump has again traded barbs with North Korea, shortly before offering to mediate in a heated regional dispute.
He took to Twitter to complain he would never call North Korean leader Kim Jong-un “short and fat”, after N.Korean foreign ministry called him “old”.
It was one of a series of remarks he made on social media before volunteering his services over maritime claims in the South China Sea.
“I’m a very good mediator,” he said.
China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei all have competing claims to territory in the South China Sea.
Tensions with China have been high in both Vietnam and the Philippines, inflamed by the formers island-building and naval patrols.
A framework for a code of conduct was agreed in August, but this is still only an outline, with more negotiations due to take place before it can be legally binding.
Mr Trump, who has long styled himself as a dealmaker, suggested his expertise could aid the process.
“If I can help mediate or arbitrate, please let me know,” Mr Trump told his Vietnamese counterpart, Tran Dai Quang, at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Hanoi.
