Emily Thornberry attacks Donald Trump’s ‘irresponsible rhetoric’ over North Korea

'We have a President who says talking is not the answer and while usually in his case I’d agree, for the US to turn their backs on diplomacy is simply irresponsible. As their closest ally we have got to be prepare to say so'

Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry (PA)

Emily Thornberry, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, has described the combative rhetoric of Donald Trump’s administration over the latest North Korean nuclear tests as “irresponsible” and “reckless”.

Speaking in the Commons Ms Thornberry said there must be a “deliberate de-escalation of rhetoric and actions” over the crisis and urged Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, to pursue a policy of “dialogue, diplomacy and peace”.

Referring to recent interventions from the US administration in relation to Pyongyang’s increasingly frequent testing of missiles in the region, Ms Thornberry added: “We have a US ambassador to the UN saying the time for talk is over.

"We have a President who says talking is not the answer and while usually in his case I’d agree, for the US to turn their backs on diplomacy is simply irresponsible. As their closest ally we have got to be prepare to say so.

Urging Mr Johnson to discount all military solutions, she added: “If they [the Government] pretend that military options, involving decapitation, annihilation, fire and fury, belong anywhere but in the bin – if they swear blind loyalty to Donald Trump no matter what abyss he drags us towards then they will be risking a hell of a lot more than just losing our support.”

During his statement in the Commons, Mr Johnson insisted that the UK was at the heart of international efforts to bring about a diplomatic solution and urged China to use all its influence to end the “grave crisis” provoked by the regime’s latest nuclear test.

He told MPs: “China, which accounts for 90 per cent of North Korea's overseas trade, has a unique ability to influence the regime - and the House can take heart from the fact that Beijing voted in favour of the latest sanctions resolution and condemned Pyongyang's actions in the most unsparing terms.

”I call on China to use all of its leverage to ensure a peaceful settlement of this grave crisis."

On Monday, the US ambassador to the United Nations told an emergency meeting that Kim Jong-un was “begging for war” after the testing of a thermonuclear device more powerful than the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Mr Johnson’s comments also came after Theresa May called President Donald Trump to discuss the ongoing crisis in the region.

A Downing Street spokesperson said the Prime Minister stressed that the regime poses a threat “not simply to its region but to global peace and security”, adding “it was important for the international community to send out a clear message that such irresponsible and provocative actions must end”.

They added: “Mrs May said Britain would work with the US and international partners to continue to exert economic pressure on North Korea through further measures including sanctions.

“The Prime Minister noted the importance of the UN Security Council continuing to present a strong and unified international voice by reaching swift agreement on new measures.

Earlier, the North Korean ambassador in London, Choe Il, was summoned to the Foreign Office for a dressing down from Asia minister Mark Field.

Over the weekend, the regime claimed to have tested an advanced hydrogen bomb that was capable of being launched inside a long-range missile. While the nature of the nuclear missile is unclear, the US Geological Survey reported a seismic event of 6.3 on Richter scale as a result of the test. Previous Pyongyang tests have resulted in events closer to five on the scale.

In July, US intelligence officials said they believed North Korea had been able to make a nuclear warhead capable of fitting on an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) as well. And just last week, the regime also launched a missile over the Hokkaido island of Japan.