Trump says he stills trusts Kim Jong-un, despite N. Korea’s end-of-year deadlines

US President Donald Trump arrives at London Stansted Airport for a summit celebrating the 70th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on Dec. 2. (Yonhap News)

US presidents revives “Rocket Man” nickname for N. Korean leader in response to “Christmas gift” comment

US President Donald Trump arrives at London Stansted Airport for a summit celebrating the 70th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on Dec. 2. (Yonhap News)

With North Korea issuing reminders about its end-of-the-year deadline, US President Donald Trump said on Dec. 3 that he still trusts North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and urged people to “see what happens.”

While responding to a reporter’s question following a summit with the leaders of NATO member states, Trump said that he still has “confidence” in Kim but added that Kim “likes sending rockets up, doesn’t he?”

The NATO summit was held in London on Tuesday, celebrating the alliance’s 70th anniversary.

“That’s why I call him ‘Rocket Man,’” Trump added, referring to the series of missile launch tests that North Korea had recently carried out.

Trump said he hopes Kim will denuclearize, while noting that “we’re going to find out.”

Also on Tuesday, Trump said the US would use military force against North Korea “if we have to,” Reuters reported.

Despite a lack of progress in North Korea and the US’ working-level talks since the Hanoi summit on Feb. 28-29 and the meeting at Panmunjom on June 12, and despite continued missile test launches by the North, Trump has refrained from criticizing or attacking North Korea while stressing that he and Kim still have a good relationship. On Tuesday, Trump once again emphasized that relationship but also mentioned the use of force and called Kim “Rocket Man,” a nickname that stirred up controversy back in 2017.

“Since [North Korea’s] Foreign Ministry spoke about a ‘Christmas present’ [on Tuesday], Trump fired back with remarks about ‘Rocket Man’ and the use of force. Both sides appear to be waging intense psychological warfare despite both wanting dialogue. They both seem to be asking each other to come to the negotiating table in a more strident tone of voice. They’re both demanding concessions of each other,” said Koo Kab-woo, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies.

By Cho Kye-wan and Noh Ji-won, staff reporters

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