SEOUL - Tensions between the US and North Korea showed signs of winding down, with Pyongyang backing off from its threat to fire missiles toward Guam as Washington ratcheted up pressure on China to rein in its wayward ally. "If the Yankees persist in their extremely dangerous reckless actions on the Korean Peninsula and in its vicinity, testing the self-restraint of (North Korea), the latter will make an important decision as it already declared," the report added. The move was largely aimed to induce China to tighten pressure on North Korea. China has announced a plan to cut off imports of North Korean coal, iron ore and other goods under UN sanctions imposed over the North's nuclear and missile programs. Seeking to present a united front against North Korea and its supporters, Trump on Tuesday held a telephone call with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and agreed that the allies' priority is how to halt North Korea's missile launches.

Source: The China Post August 15, 2017 09:33 UTC