But the comment could just as easily weaken Trump's hand with the Chinese, laying the American position bare and making it clear that the United States is prepared to deal with North Korea alone.
The discussions reflect concern in Brussels, Seoul and Beijing that sanctions alone won't persuade Pyongyang to halt its nuclear program and that negotiations are needed to avoid military conflict.
The family of American college student Otto Warmbier said the 22-year-old died Monday, days after his release from North Korea.
A ban on Americans visiting North Korea would only slightly add to Pyongyang's isolation and loss of revenue.
Any role for Brussels would need backing from Washington and European Union member states, neither of which is assured.
"No conclusions about the cause and manner of Mr. Warmbier's death have been drawn at this time as there are additional medical records and imaging to review and people to interview", the coroner's office statement said.
One Trump administration official said bluntly they didn't know what Trump was referencing when asked what the tweet meant. And we will continue to hopefully build on the relationship and the dialogue that we've had with China.
A seemingly harmless, cheeky gesture while touring North Korea saw Otto Warmbier become "a dispensable pawn in a great worldwide chess game", former High Court judge Michael Kirby says.
U.S. officials told CNN that if a sixth nuclear test by North Korea were to occur, it would be clear that the existing pressure by China on North Korea is not working.
Australian senator moves motion while breastfeeding
In 2016, a politician in Iceland breastfed her one-month-old child while speaking at the national parliament. This is published unedited from the PTI feed .
Warmbier's death came just days after he was released by the North Korean government and returned to the United States suffering from what US doctors described as extensive brain damage.
Speaking after talks in Washington on June 21 between high-ranking USA and Chinese officials, Tillerson said "China understands the United States regards North Korea as our top security threat".
"This is a crime against humanity", former Gov. Bill Richardson, who has successfully extricated Americans held in the communist country, told FOX Business Tuesday. But the United States officials said it will be at least a year before they can evaluate whether the North Koreans are feeling pressure because of China.
"It's a total disgrace what happened to Otto", Trump told reporters in the White House, where he was meeting with Ukrainian President Petro Proshenko.
"He was unable to speak, unable to see and unable to react to verbal commands", Warmbier's parents had said in a statement announcing his death.
"China has made the utmost efforts to help break the stalemate in the North Korean nuclear issue".
The US student held in captivity for more than 15 months in North Korea has died a week after returning home.
"North Korea's isolation posed unique challenges, but we worked through every avenue available to us - including through the Swedish, our protecting power, as well as through our representatives in NY - to secure the release of Mr. Warmbier", he said, adding that at least 10 Americans were freed from North Korea under Obama.
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