• The chances of resolving nuclear tensions with North Korea diplomatically plunged after President Trump said that his secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, was “wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man.”

Mr. Tillerson, above right, had raised hopes by saying the U.S. was in direct communication with the North and inviting talks. He was briefly in China over the weekend, where Beijing’s anger at Seoul for embracing a U.S. missile defense system has masked a trade boom between the two countries.