North Korea test-fired several short-range ballistic missiles as the US and South Korea are engaging in war games.
The South Korean military reported the North Korean missile test on Thursday. The missile launch occurred after President Trump requested a meeting with Supreme Leader Kim.
When asked by a reporter if he planned to meet with Kim before the end of the year on Wednesday, Trump replied, “Yes, I will be.” The President added that he has a good relationship with the North Korean leader.
“I get along with Kim Jong Un very well. He’s going to be fine. As long as we have a smart president, he’s going to be fine.” He continued, “He has 57 very powerful nuclear weapons. Should have never allowed it to happen, they should never have allowed it – if I were president, I never would have allowed it.”
Pyongyang has not responded to Trump’s request for a meeting with Kim. Kim Yo Jong, the sister of the Supreme Leader, said she was unaware if her brother had any communications with Trump.
Last year, Pyongyang stated that it would not engage in talks with Washington until the US drops its demand that North Korea give up its nuclear weapons.
The missile test occurred as the US and South Korea were engaged in joint war games. Last week, Trump announced the annual war games would be scaled back.
“Based on my very good relationship with Kim Jong Un, of North Korea, I am not happy with the fact that the United States has, long ago, agreed to participate in Joint Military Exercises with South Korea,” the President wrote on Truth Social Sunday. “These exercises are not only costly, with much of these costs paid for by the United States of America (as usual!), but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile, to a Country that, as long as Donald J. Trump has been President, has been unthreatening and respectful.”
He continued, “Therefore, and based on the fact that it is too late to cancel, I have instructed Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to substantially reduce the Joint Military Exercises!”
North Korea views the American-led war games as preparation for a regime change operation against Supreme Leader Kim. Military drills between the US and South Korea often provoke North Korea into conducting multiple missile tests.
Earlier this week, Trump suggested that he decided to scale back the war games after South Korea refused to assist the US in the war against Iran. During a presser on Monday, President Trump recalled a recent conversation with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. Trump said, “Would you to give us a little hand with Iran? If you would like, we don’t need help. [Myung] said, ‘No thanks.’”
The President continued, “What do you mean? We have 39,000 soldiers over there guarding you from Kim Jong Un, and you are not going to help us with Iran? That’s strange.”
