Xi urges Trump to avoid exacerbating NKorean situation

Chinese President Jinping urged US President Donald Trump to “avoid words and deeds” that exacerbate the North Korean crisis when they talked by phone Friday. They agreed that the Korean Korea must be denuclearized and both said that Pyongyang must put a stop to its “provocative and escalatory behavior.” Convoys of Patriot PAC-3 advanced missile defense systems were seen arriving Saturday at a military base at Hiroshima and bound for Tokyo and three other main cities. 

According to local media, Patriot missiles are being placed along the west coast to make good on Japan’s promise to intercept any missiles North Korea fires at Guam. US and Japanese troops began a joint exercise on the Japanese island of Hokkaido on Thursday. The drill, named Northern Viper 17, involves about 500 U.S. Marines and 18 American aircraft. It is scheduled to last until August 28.