Washington – According to U.S. President Donald Trump, North Korea possesses a "very large" nuclear arsenal. Trump also stated that the situation will be fine as long as he is in office. He described North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as his friend. This was reported by the Japanese news agency Kyodo.
Trump addressed the issue of North Korea's nuclear program in connection with the long-standing tense relations between Washington and Pyongyang. The United States has long considered North Korea's nuclear and missile programs to be one of the significant security challenges in East Asia. When assessing the situation, the U.S. president highlighted the extent of North Korea's nuclear arsenal, using the phrase "very large." At the same time, he expressed confidence that the situation would be manageable during his tenure in office.
Trump also spoke about his relationship with Kim Jong-un. He described the North Korean leader as his friend, recalling the personal nature of his previous communication with Pyongyang. Trump met with Kim during his first term in office, and their discussions focused primarily on the issue of North Korea's nuclear program and the possibility of its reduction. The meetings between Trump and Kim in 2018 and 2019 represented an unprecedented direct diplomacy between the sitting U.S. president and the North Korean leader. Although the talks brought about a change in atmosphere in bilateral relations, it was not possible to reach a comprehensive agreement on denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
Meanwhile, North Korea continues its nuclear and missile programs and regularly declares its right to develop its own defense capabilities. Pyongyang has long rejected demands for unilateral nuclear disarmament and criticizes military cooperation between the United States, South Korea, and Japan. Trump's latest remarks once again highlighted the issue of North Korea's nuclear capabilities and the possibility of future communication between Washington and Pyongyang. The president's reference to a personal relationship with Kim Jong-un also suggests that personal diplomacy may continue to play a role in his approach to North Korea. The issue of North Korea's nuclear program remains one of the main topics of security policy in Asia. Therefore, developments in relations between Washington and Pyongyang will be closely watched not only by the United States and North Korea, but also by South Korea, Japan, and other countries in the region.
Jan Vojtěch, General News