Go to contents

'Kim Jong Un is a madman with nuclear arms,' says Trump

Posted May. 25, 2017 07:17,   

Updated May. 25, 2017 07:34

한국어

"We can't let a madman with nuclear weapons let on the loose like that.”

U.S. President Donald Trump called North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a "madman with nuclear weapons" on April 29 during a telephone call with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.

An online U.S. media The Intercept disclosed on Tuesday a transcript of the telephone conversation between the two leaders prepared by the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippine government. According to the report, President Trump showed a stark difference in his attitude towards North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made during an interview with Bloomberg News on May 1, “If it’s under the right circumstances, I would be honored to do meet Kim Jong Un.” However, Trump expressed his thoughts to the Philippine leader on the recent development of North Korean missiles that “he has got the powder, but he doesn't have the delivery system,” and added that "all his rockets are crashing. That's the good news."

On the role of China expected to deter North Korean nuclear weapons, Trump commented that “they (China) are not receiving calls (from North Korea),” and added that "But if China doesn't do it, we will do it." He also boasted the U.S. military prowess by saying, "We have a lot of firepower, more than he has, times 20, but we don't want to use it. We don't have to use this but he could be so crazy so we will see what happens.”

To this end, 64 Democratic legislators urged Trump to converse with Kim by issuing a letter on the same day, declaring, “We respectfully request more information about the steps your administration is taking to advance the prospects or direct negotiations that could lower the potential for catastrophic war and ultimately lead to the denuclearization of the peninsula.” The letter explicitly expressed the legislators’ opposition by stressing the congressional approval for any pre-emptive military strike on North Korea.



Gi-Jae Han record@donga.com