Trump to talk with Singapore, Thailand leaders on North Korea

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump will speak with leaders of Singapore and Thailand on Sunday about the threat North Korea poses of massive, nuclear destruction in Asia, White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus said.

"We need cooperation at some level with as many partners in the area as we can get to make sure that we have our ducks in a row," Priebus told ABC's "This Week."

Trump spoke to Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday about North Korea and his outreach to regional leaders aims to get "everyone in line backing up a plan of action" if the situation in North Korea deteriorates, Priebus said.

He added that Trump was in regular contact with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and that the president had become "very close" to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"There is nothing right now facing this country and facing the region that is a bigger threat than what is happening in North Korea," the White House chief of staff said.

Priebus said the planned conversations were prompted by the "potential for nuclear and massive destruction in Asia" and eventually in the United States. — Reuters