Trump: "Ukraine War Complicated by North Korea's Involvement... Getting Along Well with Kim Jong-un"‥1/6 Capitol Rioters Pardon Expected

TIME Interview with US Weekly News Magazine
Selected as 'Person of the Year' Again in 2016
"Want to End Ukraine War Quickly"
Suggests Military Deployment for Illegal Immigrant Deportation

Donald Trump, the President-elect of the United States, stated in an interview with the current affairs weekly magazine Time on the 12th (local time) that he intends to bring an early end to the Russia-Ukraine war. Although the Ukraine conflict has become complicated due to North Korea's involvement, he boasted of his friendship with Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, saying they "get along very well" and that he is "probably the only person who has dealt with him properly." He also expressed his intention to pardon those involved in the January 6 Capitol riot immediately after his inauguration in January next year and to deploy the military for the deportation of illegal immigrants.

In the interview released after Time named him 'Person of the Year,' Trump said he wants to "end the Ukraine war quickly."

When asked if he would abandon Ukraine, he replied, "I want to reach an agreement," adding, "The only way to reach an agreement is not to give up."

Trump said he is "seeing two major fronts" in Ukraine and the Middle East and that "North Korea's involvement is another factor that makes (the Ukraine war) very complicated." He continued, "I know Kim Jong-un," and claimed, "I get along very well with Kim Jong-un. I am probably the only person who has dealt with him properly."

Previously, during his first term, Trump held the first and second North Korea-U.S. summits in Singapore and Hanoi, Vietnam, respectively, and met Kim Jong-un a total of three times, including at Panmunjom. In the interview, he flaunted his friendship with Kim. It is reported that Trump's transition team is considering pursuing direct talks with Kim Jong-un during the second administration as well.

Regarding the two fronts, he said, "There are many very bad and complicated factors, but we will sit at the negotiating table," adding, "When each or both wars end, I will show you how good a job I have done."

Trump criticized Ukraine's attack on Russian mainland with missiles supported by the U.S. under the Biden administration's approval as "a significant escalation and a foolish decision." When asked if he had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin after winning the election, he avoided answering, saying, "It is not appropriate to mention."

When asked if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised when the Gaza war would end, Trump replied, "I think he trusts me and knows that I want to end this war." Trump has supported the 'two-state solution,' a plan for Israel and Palestine to build their own states and coexist peacefully, and said, "I support any solution necessary to achieve just and lasting peace."

Regarding the possibility of war with Iran, he said, "Anything can happen," describing the situation as "very unstable." During his first term, Trump maintained a hardline stance against Iran.

Trump also expressed his intention to pardon those involved in the January 6 Capitol riot immediately upon his inauguration on January 20 next year. The incident involved Trump’s ardent supporters storming the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. in protest of the 2020 election results. He said he would start pardoning the related individuals "within an hour" of inauguration, "probably within the first nine minutes."

When asked about plans to deploy the military for large-scale deportation of illegal immigrants, Trump said, "If they invade our country, you cannot stop the military deployment," adding, "I will do only what the law allows, but if the law permits, I will raise the response level to the maximum."

Time named Trump Person of the Year and released the interview on the same day. The interview was conducted on the 25th of last month at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. Time evaluated, "From his most fanatical supporters to his most ardent critics, we all live in the Trump era," and said, "Trump is once again at the center of the world, and his position is stronger than ever."