Clinton says Trump’s threats against North Korea 'dangerous, short-sighted'

US President Donald Trump’s threats of military strike on North Korea are "dangerous and short-sighted," says former presidential candidate and secretary of state, Hillary Clinton.

"There is no need for us to be bellicose and aggressive (over North Korea)," said Clinton at a forum in the South Korean capital Seoul on Wednesday.

She urged Washington instead to put greater diplomatic pressure on Pyongyang and get all parties to the negotiating table.

Tensions between the US and North Korea have dramatically increased following a series of weapons tests by Pyongyang and an ugly war of words between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

"Picking fights with Kim Jong-un puts a smile on his face," Clinton said, without mentioning Trump by name. "The insults on Twitter have benefited North Korea, I don't think they've benefited the United States," she added.

The former top diplomat said that Trump’s exchanges with Kim would do nothing but damage the US credibility with its allies.

"I am worried about some of the recent actions from the new administration that seem to raise tensions. Our allies are now expressing concerns about America's credibility and reliability," she said.

Clinton also warned that she was "very concerned that the new administration is draining the government of the expertise" in diplomacy over North Korea.

"There are few Asia experts of senior level left at the State Department," she said.

The US has led international efforts to impose tough sanctions on North Korea after Pyongyang tested two intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) in July and later carried out its most powerful nuclear test.

Pyongyang also sent missiles above Japan in September, prompting massive fears in the island country.

PressTV-US to allies: Be ready for 'worst' with N Korea

The deputy secretary of state tells Japan and other allies they must be “prepared for the worst” if diplomacy fails with North Korea.

However, experts say a major obstacle to any de-escalation on the Korean Peninsula has been Washington’s belligerent rhetoric against the North.

After Pyongyang’s ICBM tests, Trump threatened to unleash “fire and fury” on North Korea like the world has never seen, indicating a possible nuclear strike. The US president has also threatened to “totally destroy North Korea” if necessary.

Pyongyang told the United Nations on Monday that it would not negotiate its nuclear weapons program unless the US reversed its "hostile" policy.

PressTV-US conducts firing drill over Korean Peninsula

The US military flies two supersonic B-1B bombers over the Korean peninsula in a show of force against North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.

The US military flew two supersonic B-1B bombers over the Korean peninsula earlier this month as part of a combined firing drill with Japan and South Korea in the region.

The US and South Korea are also expected to hold joint naval drills this week despite international calls for the de-escalation of tensions with North Korea.

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