Comments by US President Donald Trump recognising North Korea as a nuclear power could prompt the South to reassess its place under the American nuclear umbrella that has so far provided deterrence against its arch rival, observers warn.
While addressing North Korea as a “nuclear power”, Trump said on Thursday he still had a good relationship with its ruler Kim Jong-un, with whom he met three times in his first term.
“I would … I have a great relationship with Kim and we’ll see what happens, but certainly he’s a nuclear power,” the American leader said after being asked by reporters during an Oval Office meeting with Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte whether he had plans to reestablish relations with the hermit regime.
Trump met Kim three times, including in Singapore in 2018 and in Hanoi the following year, but failed to seal a deal on North Korea’s denuclearisation due to differences in details on such an agreement.
Since then, Pyongyang has consistently refused dialogue with Washington.
After testing the Hwasong-19 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile in October last year, Kim declared he would never diverge from the path of “strengthening nuclear deterrence” under any circumstances.