From ‘Little Rocket Man’ to ‘call me,’ US leader has offered a range of thoughts about Kim Jong Un
When it comes to rhetoric about North Korea, U. S. President Donald Trump has been the master of both the bellicose taunt and soothing benevolence, often in close proximity to each other.
Trump’s duality on the reclusive communist pariah nation was on display again Thursday as he canceled the planned June 12 summit in Singapore with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
On the one hand, Trump told Kim that he was «very much looking forward to being there with you.» But then he said he was canceling because, «Sadly, based on the tremendous anger and open hostility displayed in your most recent statement, I feel it is inappropriate, at this time, to have this long-planned meeting.»
Trump warned, «You talk about your nuclear capabilities, but ours are so massive and powerful that I pray to God they will never have to be used.»
Still, wait a minute, Trump seemed to say. «I felt a wonderful dialogue was building up between you and me,» he said, adding his thanks for releasing three Americans who had been held in North Korea. He held out hope to get together in the future, saying, «If you change your mind having to do with this most important summit, please do not hesitate to call me or write.»
Mostly, through his 16-month presidency and in the years before he transformed himself from a New York real estate mogul into a Republican presidential contender, Trump warned of the dangers of a nuclear North Korea. His barbed comments about Kim and North Korea’s broken promises in years past to denuclearize echoed the sentiment of many U. S. politicians, but often included an extra helping of ridicule.
Trading insults
In 2013, two years before he announced his presidential candidacy, Trump warned former President Barack Obama to be cautious with Kim, calling the North Korea leader a «whack job.
