Trump says North Korea's Kim has responded to his overtures
WASHINGTON: A day after he ordered the United States to scale back military exercises with South Korea and called North Korea “unthreatening and respectful”, US President Donald Trump said on Monday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had responded to his outreach.
On Monday, US President Donald Trump claimed that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had responded to his attempts to re-engage with the isolated nation. Despite the White House and North Korea's UN mission not providing further details, Trump stated during an Oval Office interview that Kim has responded to his efforts. This response comes a day after Trump ordered a reduction of joint military exercises with South Korea, citing cost and Seoul's reluctance to participate.
North Korea frequently criticizes such drills as war preparations. The relationship between Kim and Trump was a significant topic during Trump's first term, with the two leaders holding summits and exchanges of correspondence before negotiations stalled due to Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal. Since Trump and Kim's last meeting in 2019, North Korea has bolstered ties with Russia while maintaining close ties with China, with North Korean troops fighting alongside Russia in Ukraine.
Despite Trump's administration criticizing North Korea's military support for Russia, he stated that Kim has always treated him with great respect. Analysts believe another meeting between the two is possible, though it may be delayed.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
