WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has a “pretty large” nuclear capacity and suggested Kim will be “fine” as long as Trump remains in office. Trump described Kim as a friend and said Kim respects and likes him, reinforcing a softer message toward Pyongyang as he signals interest in reviving talks with North Korea.
Trump has recently treated North Korea’s nuclear arsenal as an established fact, including a previous claim that the country has 57 nuclear weapons. His latest remarks appeared to leave the door open to renewed U.S.-North Korea engagement without making denuclearization a precondition.
At the same time, Trump took a far harder line on Iran. He again said the United States will never allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon, underscoring the sharp contrast in his approach to the two countries.
The comments are likely to draw close attention in South Korea and among Korean Americans, where any sign of renewed diplomacy with North Korea is closely watched.
