Trump Comments on North Korea’s Nuclear Program

US President Donald Trump has downplayed the significance of Pyongyang’s controversial nuclear program while referring to his reportedly friendly relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Trump was asked why Iran should not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons when North Korea already possesses nuclear weapons and continues to expand its arsenal. Trump blamed his predecessor, Joe Biden, for failing to make progress with North Korea and claimed that he is the only person in the world whom the North Korean leader likes. Trump said, “Because you had a different president. He could have stopped it. He’s my friend. Kim Jong Un is my friend. He likes Trump.” Trump added that Pyongyang has a “pretty big” nuclear arsenal.

Referring to the North Korean leader, Trump said, “He doesn’t like a lot of other people. I’m probably the only person in the world that he likes, and I like him. As long as I’m here, he’ll be fine. You know why? Because he respects me and he likes me.” He added, “When I say that, I get a lot of criticism. People say, ‘That’s very bad. Trump’s praise for Kim Jong Un comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has claimed that North Korea is preparing to send another 10,000 troops to support Russia in its ongoing war against Ukraine. According to Zelenskyy, Pyongyang has already sent 8,000 troops to fight on Russia’s side. Trump’s desire to hold another summit with Kim Jong Un is no secret. He has repeatedly said that he would “meet” the North Korean leader by the end of this year, although no plans have been announced for such a meeting.

According to reports published by US media citing unnamed sources, Trump has privately urged his aides to arrange a meeting with Kim Jong Un later this year during his visit to China for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. Trump recently scaled back the “Ulchi Freedom Shield” military exercises with South Korea. He criticized the 11-day joint military drills as “inappropriate and aggressive” toward North Korea and costly for the United States, a move that reportedly surprised even some of his allies. During his first term in office, Trump became the first sitting US president to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in 2018. The two leaders held two more meetings afterward, but the diplomatic process broke down in 2019. Trump has since proudly referred to the “love letters” he said he received from the North Korean leader.

 Meanwhile, North Korea has established a strategic defense partnership with Russia, under which Pyongyang has expanded its conventional weapons arsenal and supported Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine by providing troops and weapons. Pyongyang has also strengthened its relations with China. During this period, North Korea has expanded its military capabilities, conducting six separate nuclear tests and demonstrating the ability to deliver nuclear weapons using long-range missiles. After Trump scaled back military exercises with South Korea, Kim Jong Un’s influential sister, Kim Yo Jong, said that if the United States viewed the move as “some kind of goodwill gesture,” it would “not receive the response it wishes for.”  Kim Yo Jong also rejected Trump’s claim that he was in contact with Kim Jong Un, saying she was “completely unaware” of any such communication. At the same time, she said that Kim Jong Un still has “good personal memories and feelings” toward Trump and that the relationship between the two leaders remains “excellent.”