US President Donald Trump describes North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as a „pretty smart cookie“<\/b>
\nUS President, Donald Trump, has described North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as a „pretty smart cookie“.
In a TV interview on Face the Nation\u00a0on\u00a0CBS, the President\u00a0said\u00a0Mr Kim had assumed power at a young age, despite dealing with „some very tough people“.
„People are saying: ‚Is he sane?‘ I have no idea but he was a young man of 26 or 27\u00a0when his father died. He’s dealing with obviously very tough people, in particular the generals and others.“
„And at a very young age, he was able to assume power. A lot of people, I’m sure, tried to take that power away, whether it was his uncle or anybody else. And he was able to do it. So obviously, he’s a pretty smart cookie.“
Meanwhile, President\u00a0Trump\u00a0spoke\u00a0with leaders of Singapore and Thailand on Sunday about the threat North Korea poses in Asia.
„We need cooperation at some level with as many partners in the area as we can get to make sure that we have our ducks in\u00a0a row, “ US Chief of Staff, Reince Priebus told ABC’s „This Week.“
President Trump spoke to Philippine’s President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday about North Korea and his outreach to regional leaders aims to get „everyone in line backing up a plan of action“ if the situation in North Korea deteriorates, Priebus said.
He added that Mr Trump\u00a0was in regular contact with Japan’s Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, and that the President had become“very close“ to Chinese President, Xi Jinping.
President Trump has praised his Chinese counterpart.
In his TV interview, Mr Trump said getting Chinese cooperation to deal with North Korea is more important than putting pressure on Beijing over trade.
„There is nothing right now facing this country and facing the region that is a bigger threat than what is happening in North Korea, “ the White House chief of staff said.
Priebus said the planned conversations were prompted by the „potential for nuclear and massive destruction in Asia“ and eventually in the United States.<\/p>\n