Trump: "Kim Jong-un is a 'Nuclear State'... He Will Welcome My Return"

Remarks Made at the White House Office During Inauguration
Explicit Reference to North Korea as a "Nuclear Power"
Attention to Condo Capabilities... "Has a Lot of Coastline"

North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un is presiding over the 11th plenary meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea held last December. Photo by Yonhap News

U.S. President Donald Trump referred to North Korea as a nuclear power on the 20th (local time) and reiterated that he had a good relationship with Chairman Kim Jong-un during his first term.

President Trump introduced his relationship with Chairman Kim, saying at the White House office that day, "I was very friendly with Kim Jong-un, and he liked me. I liked him, and we got along very well."

He continued, "They thought it was a huge threat (North Korea). Now he is a nuclear power. We got along well. I think he would welcome my return."

It is unusual for President Trump to explicitly refer to North Korea as a nuclear power.

He further explained, "I think he has tremendous condo capabilities. He has a lot of coastline."

President Trump's response came in answer to a question about what threats the outgoing President Joe Biden had identified that day, similar to how former President Barack Obama, who left the White House in 2017, had pointed to North Korea as a major security threat when President Trump began his first term.

President Trump emphasized, "I think we have many threats now. At that time, I think North Korea was going well."