DONALD Trump hopes to rekindle his relationship with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un as he returns to the White House.
The president announced on Thursday, his third full day back in office, that he is looking to engage with Kim again after a building a working relationship during his first term.
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President Donald Trump hopes to rekindle his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-UnCredit: Reuters
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Trump announced his plans in his first televised interview since re-entering the White HouseCredit: AFP
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Trump and Kim made history in the President’s first term by meeting at the demilitarized zone in 2019Credit: Reuters
Trump detailed his hopes to strike a deal with the leader in his first televised interview since being inaugurated on Monday.
The interview, in which the President was asked about key issues including his plans for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, TikTok, and Joe Biden’s last-minute pardons, was aired on Fox News.
When speaking about his return to the White House, Trump explained how he worked hard in his first term to foster good relations with other world leaders.
This is something he hopes to build on now he is back in power.
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Speaking of Kim, the President confirmed to Fox News’ Sean Hannity: “I’ll reach out to him again.”
Trump went on a charm offensive saying: “He liked me and I got along with him.
“He happens to be a smart guy. He’s a smart guy.”
Relations between the two nations became strained under the Biden administration and Obama’s leadership.
When speaking to Hannity, Trump remarked: “He [Obama] said North Korea is the biggest threat, and I solved that problem.
“I’m not Obama.”
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During the Republican’s first term, his attitude towards North Korea and its leader was hit and miss with open mockery and bluster to diplomacy and even affection.
When Trump first entered the White House in 2016, he referred to Kim as “Little Rocket Man” and said he would unleash “fire and fury” on the nation after a nuclear test.
Despite this, near the end of his leadership, Trump and Kim made history by meeting three times between 2018 and 2019.
The two leaders met in Singapore, Hanoi and the Korean Demilitarised Zone.
CHARM-OFFENSIVE
Relations between the pair appeared to become so positive that Trump admitted he and the North Korean leader “fell in love.”
Last year, Trump’s book Letters to Trump revealed the excessive flattery used between the pair during their bizarre relationship.
In July 2018, Kim wrote to Trump saying: “Your excellency Mr President.
“I express my deep appreciation to Your Excellency for having a firm faith in the excellent relations established between us during the first summit and exerting yourself to honor the promise made in that historic day.”
He continued: “I feel pleased to have formed good ties with such a powerful and preeminent statesman as Your Excellency, though there is a sense of regret for the lack of anticipated declaration on the termination of war.”
A letter sent from Trump congratulated Kim on his birthday and wished him “many great years of celebration and success.”
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The two leaders have had a fractious relationship with mockery and bluster as well as excessive flattery and praiseCredit: Reuters
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Kim Jong Un reads a letter from U.S. President Donald Trump in 2019Credit: Reuters
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Trump showed off his letters from Kim Jong Un in his book published last yearCredit: Letters to Trump
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The letters offer some insight into the pair’s bizarre relationshipCredit: Letters to Trump
In the book, the then former-president claimed that Obama’s actions saw the two nations almost go to war.
Trump wrote: “I was also given credit for calming down a very serious situation.
“I believe they would have gone to war with him had I not become President. Under my watch, there was no war—not even close.”
However, ties between the two nations since fell apart when they could not agree on sanctions relief and North Korea’s denuclearisation.
During Biden’s leadership as North Korea launched war games with US-ally South Korea, Kim accused America of heightening tensions in the region.
‘PEACEMAKER’
Now, as Trump steps back into power, there are no signs of bravado towards Kim as he called the nation a “nuclear power” and publicly announced his hopes to rekindle their relationship.
But just last month the North Korean leader vowed to get “tough” with an anti-US policy after calling the nation “the most reactionary state that regards anti-communism as its invariable state policy.”
Another motive for Trump hoping to restore relations is the war in Ukraine.
The North Korean dictator has bolstered Putin’s forces by sending 12,000 troops to the front lines with promises of more deployments.
But this is a conflict Trump claimed he could end swiftly if he was re-elected and he has now issued a chilling ultimatum to Russia.
With North Korea suffering heavy losses in Putin’s bloodbath, an improved bond between it and the US could help Trump in his goal.
But Korea expert Frederic Spohr, director of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation in South Korea told BILD that Kim is in a “strong position” due to his relationship with Putin.
He explained: “Trump has to make Kim a really good offer.”
The expert said Trump likely has several motives for wanting to start a dialogue between the two nations.
Sphor said: “He could portray himself as a peacemaker who creates stability in a troubled region of the world.
“Strategically, he sees China as the real rival of the United States.
“A deal with Kim could pave the way for US troops and the military alliance with South Korea to be more focused on containing China.”
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Trump will be hoping to get North Korea back on side to help end the war in UkraineCredit: Reuters
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Kim’s partnership with Vladimir Putin will be a key obstacle in Trump’s hopes of reconciliationCredit: AP