Trump says he 'gets along great' with N. Korean leader at campaign rally

President Donald Trump expressed his positive relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at a campaign rally in Ohio on Saturday, emphasizing the significance of maintaining good ties with leaders of nuclear-armed nations. The Republican nominee stated that he "gets along great" with Kim, adding, "Isn't it nice to get along with the leaders of massive nations, massive nuclear nations?"

Trump's comments come after he had previously suggested a potential meeting with Kim later this year, reigniting discussions about his previous successful personal diplomacy with the North Korean leader. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott stated that Trump does not view discussions with North Korea as concessions and is willing to engage with the country if it benefits U.S. national interests.

During the rally, Trump also mentioned the possession of "112 nuclear missiles" by North Korea, though it remains unclear what the specific figure represented. In August, Trump had claimed that North Korea possessed 57 nuclear weapons, leaving the latest number ambiguous. Despite this, North Korea has continued to reject calls for denuclearization and maintains that its nuclear weapons status is irreversible.