Trump hints at contacts with North Korea’s Kim

US President Donald Trump said Monday that Kim Jong Un had responded to his recent overtures, a day after he scaled back military drills with South Korea and praised his relationship with the North Korean leader.

Trump said he was making the situation “much safer” through his ties to Kim, whom he met three times in his first spell in the White House.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

While praising the leader of nuclear-armed North Korea, he rebuked key ally Seoul for failing to help Washington fight Iran -- a war Trump says is aimed at stopping Tehran from getting an atomic bomb.

Asked why Kim had not replied to his requests for a conversation since returning to office last year, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office: “How do you know he hasn’t responded?”

When pressed about whether Kim actually responded, Trump said: “Yeah, he has.” Asked what stage conversations with Kim were at, Trump said “it’s very positive,” but provided no further detail. Trump doubled down on his praise for Kim, saying their ties reduced tensions.