Trump touts Kim ties, cites 112 North Korea nukes
Thestandard · 3 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
Donald Trump said at a Republican midterm campaign rally in Vandalia, Ohio, on Saturday that he gets along “great” with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and that it is wise to stay on good terms with someone who has “112 nuclear missiles.” He did not explain where the 112 figure came from, and the number was markedly higher than the 57 nuclear weapons he said North Korea possessed in August. Independent and official estimates cited in the reports vary, while Washington has said dialogue with Pyongyang is not a concession if it serves US interests and remains tied to the goal of the DPRK’s complete denuclearisation.
Key Points
- Trump made the remarks on Saturday at a Republican midterm election rally in Vandalia, Ohio, while discussing ties with leaders of major nuclear powers.
- He said, “When people have 112 nuclear missiles, it’s nice to get along,” and again described his relationship with Kim as very good.
- Trump had said in August that North Korea had 57 “very powerful” nuclear weapons, making his latest figure almost double that earlier claim.
- The Standard cited SIPRI estimates of about 60 North Korean warheads, with enough fissile material as of January for at least 90 warheads.
- Sing Tao reported South Korea’s then defence minister Ahn Gyu-back said local research suggested roughly 80 to 120 North Korean warheads, though unconfirmed by the military.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the story matters because any renewed US-North Korea leader diplomacy could affect regional security sentiment and wider market risk across Asia. It also underscores the gap between Trump’s personal emphasis on ties with Kim and the standing US position that still seeks North Korea’s complete denuclearisation.