Trump: "No Nobel Prize for Me... Will Take Control of Greenland"

It has come to light that U.S. President Donald Trump sent a letter to the Norwegian Prime Minister, citing his failure to receive the Nobel Peace Prize as a reason for asserting the need for control over Greenland.

According to Yonhap News Agency and other foreign media outlets, on the 19th (local time), it was reported that President Trump made these claims in a letter sent to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

According to the reports, in the letter sent the previous day, President Trump stated, "Even though I have put an end to more than eight wars, your country has decided not to award me the Nobel Peace Prize," adding, "I no longer feel obliged to think only about 'peace.'"

He went on to say, "While peace remains an important value, I can now consider what is beneficial and right for the United States," and argued, "The world will not be safe unless the United States has complete and comprehensive control over Greenland."

This statement is interpreted as an attempt to justify the logic that the United States should take control of Greenland, prompted by his failure to win the Nobel Peace Prize last year.

However, even though the Nobel Peace Prize is determined by the independent Nobel Committee and not the Norwegian government, the reason behind President Trump conveying this position to the Norwegian Prime Minister has not been clearly revealed.

Prime Minister Støre confirmed in an interview with the Norwegian daily VG that he had received the letter from President Trump, stating, "I made it clear to President Trump and others that the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded by the independent Nobel Committee, not by the Norwegian government."

Prime Minister Støre explained that the letter arrived the previous day and that it was a reply to a joint letter he and Finnish President Alexander Stubb had previously sent to President Trump.

The earlier letter reportedly contained opposition to the so-called 'Greenland Tariffs' that President Trump had announced he would impose on eight European countries, called for easing tensions, and requested a three-party telephone conference.

In his latest letter, President Trump also questioned Denmark's rights over Greenland, stating, "I don't know why they have 'ownership'." He added, "There is no documented evidence to prove this, and all that happened hundreds of years ago was that a ship docked there. American ships have also docked there."

Regarding the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), he emphasized, "I have contributed more than anyone else since NATO's founding," and added, "Now it is time for NATO to do something for the United States."

Since beginning his second term last year, President Trump has openly expressed a strong desire to win the Nobel Peace Prize, but ultimately did not receive the award.

On the 15th, Maria Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, even 'dedicated' her genuine medal to President Trump.

In response, the Nobel Committee reiterated its longstanding position, stating, "The Nobel Prize and its recipients are inseparable, and even if the ownership of the medal or certificate changes, the status of the laureate remains unchanged."