Trump says North Korea's Kim has 'large' nuclear capacity

President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un possesses a "pretty large" nuclear capacity, though he maintains that everything will be fine as long as he remains in the White House. Trump suggested that previous U.S. administrations failed to curb North Korea's nuclear ambitions, implying that his approach might be different.

The President made these remarks while discussing the significance of North Korea's nuclear arsenal in comparison to Iran's, noting that Kim is a "friend of mine" and unlike other world leaders, Kim seems to like him. Trump acknowledged the criticism he receives for such statements but emphasized that as long as he is president, Kim will be "fine" because of their mutual respect and liking for each other.

This is not the first time Trump has casually acknowledged North Korea's nuclear status, as he had previously referred to the country possessing at least 57 "very powerful" nuclear weapons. North Korea has consistently sought to be recognized as a nuclear weapons power, a precondition for resuming talks with the U.S. However, the United States officially refuses to grant that status to North Korea, and a joint statement released after a recent trilateral meeting in New York reaffirmed the three countries' commitment to North Korea's complete denuclearization.