Trump says Russia hurting U.S. efforts on DPRK nuclear issue

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Russia was hurting U.S. efforts to rid the Democratic People's Republic of Korea(DPRK) of nuclear weapons while China had been helpful.

In an interview with Fox Business Network, Trump said it would be easier to resolve the DPRK nuclear issue if the United States had a better relationship with Russia.

"China is helping us and maybe Russia's going through the other way and hurting what we're getting," Trump said of the DPRK situation.

A series of weapons tests by DPRK and a string of increasingly bellicose exchanges between Trump and DPRK's leader Kim Jong Un have ratcheted up tensions.

Trump said in a tweet that he spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday and the conversation included DPRK.

U.S.-Russia relations have been strained over allegations Russia meddled in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Moscow's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine and its backing of the Syrian government.

"I think we could have a good relationship" with Russia, Trump said. "I think that North Korean(DPRK) situation would be easier settled."

Trump said during last year's campaign he hoped to improve relations with Moscow.

(REUTERS)