This photo, taken on June 30, 2019, shows then U.S. President Donald Trump (L) shaking hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the inter-Korean border truce village of Panmunjom. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, July 20(Korea Bizwire) – Former President Donald Trump showcased his personal rapport with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his acceptance speech for the GOP nomination for the November 5 presidential election.
Speaking on the final day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Trump suggested that Kim might prefer his return to office and claimed that Kim “misses” him.
In his address, Trump underscored his prior achievements in curbing North Korean missile tests and hinted at a possible revival of diplomacy with Pyongyang. “I got along with him, and we stopped the missile launches from North Korea.
Now, North Korea is acting up again, but when we get back, I get along with him,” Trump stated, eliciting laughter from the audience with his remark, “He’d like to see me back too. I think he misses me.”
Trump dismissed press criticisms of his relationship with Kim, remarking, “It’s nice to get along with somebody who has a lot of nuclear weapons.” His comments fueled speculation about a potential resumption of direct talks with Kim if he were to win a second term.
During his first presidency, Trump engaged in three high-profile summits with Kim, including their historic 2018 meeting in Singapore. However, denuclearization discussions have stalled since their inconclusive Hanoi summit in February 2019.
Trump used his speech to critique the foreign and security policies of his rival, President Joe Biden, highlighting worsening conditions on the Korean Peninsula. “The war is now raging in Europe and the Middle East.
A growing specter of conflict hangs over Taiwan, Korea, the Philippines, and all of Asia, and our planet is teetering on the edge of World War III,” he warned.
Emphasizing his “America First” doctrine, Trump asserted that a reelection would bring a dramatic shift in U.S. foreign policy.
He criticized long-time allies for taking advantage of the U.S., declaring, “We have long been taken advantage of by other countries. Oftentimes, these so-called allies have taken advantage of us for years.”
Trump’s speech was also a sharp critique of Biden’s administration, which he labeled as “failed” and “incompetent.”
He accused Biden of exacerbating the nation’s inflation and illegal immigration crises, depicting an ongoing invasion at the southern border as a source of widespread “misery, crime, poverty, disease, and destruction.”
In a display of resilience, Trump wore a bandage on his ear, a reminder of a recent assassination attempt. He characterized his speech as a message of “confidence,” “strength,” and “hope,” calling for national unity amidst political discord.
Trump’s robust rhetoric reflected his campaign’s confidence despite Biden’s recent self-isolation due to COVID-19 and internal party debates about his campaign’s viability.
Trump detailed the attack he survived, stating, “I am not supposed to be here tonight. I stand before you in this arena only by the grace of Almighty God.”
He concluded with a vow of unwavering determination: “No matter what obstacle comes our way, we will not break. We will not bend. We will not back down, and I will never stop fighting for you, your family, and our magnificent country.”
(Yonhap)
