"As far as North Korea is concerned, we will have, eventually, success. It may take longer than I’d like. It may take longer than you'd like. But there will be success in the end one way or the other," Trump said.
If Trump has given China a choice of doing something about North Korea or standing by and watching America lead an effort to stop North Korea, Trump has also given China time.
Secretary of Defense Mattis has certainly reinforced the idea that our military power is not about to be used:
"We stand ready to provide options if they are necessary," Mattis told reporters at an impromptu off-camera news conference. "But this is purely diplomatically-led, with economic sanctions and buttressed by the military position that we're taking right now."
I hope we have the time. I hope we have viable options if we don't.
