What can be done to avoid a catastrophe?

Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un have been ramping up the rhetoric in recent weeks. The crisis must reach a peaceful conclusion — and China will play a key role, writes Yoon Young-kwan.          

So far, the war between US President Donald Trump and North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un over the latter’s nuclear programme has been fought only in words.

But each turn of the rhetorical screw deepens the risk that, to paraphrase Winston Churchill, “jaw-jaw” could turn into “war-war”.