US President Donald Trump said on Monday (local time) that Kim Jong Un has “always treated me with great respect” after citing his “very good” relationship with the North Korean leader to “substantially reduce” joint military exercises with South Korea“Kim Jong Un has always treated me with great respect. We met on two main occasions, spoke and spent time together. I understand him, and he understands me. I get along with him,” he told reporters, referring to their meetings during his first term.Trump also contrasted his relationship with Kim with the North Korean leader’s reported views of previous US presidents.“He (Kim) didn’t like Biden, he didn’t like Obama, he didn’t like anybody, but I get along with him very well. What I’m doing now is making things safer — just the opposite,” the Republican added.Earlier, in a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with the United States’ previous agreement to participate in joint military exercises with South Korea.“Based on my very good relationship with Kim Jong Un, of North Korea, I am not happy with the fact that the United States has, long ago, agreed to participate in Joint Military Exercises with South Korea,” he wrote.The US president characterised the exercises as costly and argued that they send a “totally inappropriate and hostile” signal to North Korea, which he claimed has remained “unthreatening and respectful” during his presidency.While acknowledging that it was “too late” to cancel the exercises altogether, Trump instructed Hegseth to substantially scale them back.On August 15, Trump shared a throwback photograph with Kim, joking that despite their “unfriendly look” in the picture, the two leaders “get along GREAT.”“Despite the unfriendly look on this particular picture, there are many where we’re smiling. Kim Jong Un and I get along GREAT!” he wrote.(With ANI inputs)
