Trump says N. Korea has 57 nuclear weapons, plans to meet Kim later this year
WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he planned to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and said the Asian nation held 57 "very powerful" nuclear weapons. The remarks come as Trump ordered Pentagon officials to cut short joint exercises with the South Korean military, writing in a Sunday social media post that they sent a message to Pyongyang that was "totally…
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he intends to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un later this year, revealing that the country possesses 57 extremely powerful nuclear weapons. This announcement came as Trump directed Pentagon officials to expedite the discontinuation of joint military exercises with South Korea.
In a Sunday social media post, Trump deemed the exercises as an inappropriate and hostile message to Pyongyang, a nation which has been unthreatening and respectful towards the United States throughout Trump's presidency. During his first term, Kim had referred to Trump as a "mentally deranged U.S. dotard" and threatened to use a nuclear button on his desk.
The leaders' relationship deteriorated after face-to-face meetings in 2018 and 2019, including a brief encounter at the demilitarized zone between the Koreas where Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to enter North Korean territory. Trump reassured reporters that he knew Kim well and that he would be fine as long as he had a smart president.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- Trump says he expects to meet with North Korea's Kim Jong Un this year cbsnews.com
- Trump says will meet North Korea's Kim later this year gulfnews.com
- Trump says N. Korea has 57 nuclear weapons, plans to meet Kim later this year koreatimes.co.kr
- Trump plans to meet Kim Jong Un, says North Korea has 57 nuclear weapons hindustantimes.com
- Joint exercises with South Korea shortened by about half after Trump order thehill.com
- North Korea shrugs off Trump's scaled-back drills with South Korea, saying it changes nothing pbs.org
- Trump says North Korea has '57 very powerful nuclear weapons' euronews.com
