WASHINGTON, D.C.: Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump discussed the crisis over North Korea’s nuclear program in a phone call Thursday, in which the US president took the unusual step of thanking his Russian counterpart for praising America’s economy. The White House said the two “discussed working together to resolve the very dangerous situation in North Korea.”But Trump’s thanks to Putin took top billing in the US statement. “President Trump thanked President Putin for acknowledging America’s strong economic performance in his annual press conference,” it said. Earlier in the day, Putin told his press conference: “Look at how the markets are reacting, they are growing. However, he called on all sides to “stop aggravating the situation” and said Moscow did not recognize North Korea’s status as a nuclear power.

Source: Manila Times December 15, 2017 01:41 UTC