Washington Free Beacon reporter Adam Kredo said on One America News that he does not envision China being willing to "go out on a limb" for North Korea should the U.S. pursue military measures against the rogue state's nuclear program.
After North Korea failed to successfully test a medium-range missile last week, Vice President Mike Pence said Monday at the Demilitarized Zone that the era of "strategic patience" with North Korean malfeasance and nuclear brinksmanship is over.
China is an ally and major trading partner to North Korea, which is isolated from much of the world through its aggressive behavior and totalitarian government. After employing a tough posture toward China on the campaign trail, President Trump is taking a softer tone as he tries to encourage the Chinese to put pressure on the North Korean nuclear program.
Asked by host Liz Wheeler whether the U.S. was on the verge of any armed conflict with the North Koreans, Kredo said no.
"I truly don't believe North Korea is really prepared to engage in a proper war with the United States, as much as they might posture and claim that they can," he said. "They haven't successfully tested any sort of missile that can reach us."
Kredo said U.S. military action by the Trump administration, like the recent missiles fired at Syria over its chemical weapons attack, could be a "wake-up call" for North Korea.
"I think a lot of the people who warn us against taking action on North Korea warn about China, but when it comes down to it, I do question how willing China is going to be to go out on a limb for North Korea knowing that the U.S. is prepared to take action," Kredo said. "I don't see it happening."