Donald trump scraps ‘surprise’ visit to north korea military border

The US President was minutes from landing in a helicopter near the heavily fortified area but the plan had to be scrapped due to “poor weather”, according to the White House. The visit would

have marked a historic step closer by Trump to Kim Jong-un with whom the Republican has been engaged in an escalating war of words since he took office earlier this year. The move comes

amid fears North Korea could launch a deadly nuclear weapon during Trump’s South Korea visit.  The White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said Trump was disappointed that his surprise

trip to the DMZ was thwarted after two attempts by Marine One to land near the North Korean border. She added the President is “pretty frustrated” that he had to change his plans. Air Force

One landed in South Korea yesterday as part of his 12-day Asia tour with his wife Melania.  Marine One had flown most of the way from Seoul to the DMZ before turning due to poor weather

conditions. Weather reports from near the DMZ showed misting conditions and visibility below one mile. The White House said Trump’s trip to the DMZ had been planned well before he left for

Asia, but it was kept secret due to security concerns. The President and Melania were welcomed with a red carpet and a ceremonial military guard of honour arrayed on the airport tarmac. The

firebrand Republican then flew by helicopter to Camp Humphreys, a US base south of Seoul, where he is currently meeting with American and South Korean service members. The visit marks the

closest he has come to the frontline of the nuclear standoff with North Korea. Addressing the 8th US Army in Korea – which brandished the motto Pacific Victors! – about the situation with

the hermit kingdom, he added: “Ultimately, it will all work out. It always works out. “It has to work out.” Tweeting before he boarded Air Force One, the US President said: "Getting

ready to leave for South Korea and meetings with President Moon, a fine gentleman. We will figure it all out! DONALD TRUMP ATTEMPTS AWKWARD SALUTE IN SOUTH KOREA And after a meeting with

South Korean president Moon Jae-in, Trump said: “We cannot allow North Korea to threaten all that we have built. “It really makes sense for North Korea to come to the table and make a deal.”

Trump’s visit to South Korea will conclude with a major speech on North Korea to the National Assembly later today. The high-profile visit could provoke a fiery response from Kim Jong-un,

who sees any cooperation between the US and North Korea’s Asian rivals as preparation for war. In February, the hermit state fired a rocket after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met Mr

Trump in Florida. And North Korea fired another missile as Mr Trump met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Joshua Pollack of RUSI, a Defence think tank, said North Korea could fire the weapon

in a desperate show of force as his two fiercest rivals move closer together. Mr Pollack said Kim favoured “public demonstrations” and expected one to take place shortly. He added: “North

Korean leadership undoubtedly feels pushed into a corner. “The logical sequence of actions would be to start testing them to full range into the Pacific, and then to use one for a live

nuclear test if it is deemed necessary to convince America’s leaders that a new reality has emerged.” And experts fear that this would most likely be the ‘Juche Bird’ H-bomb - the most

powerful weapon North Korea possesses.