On his first day in office, January 20th (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, stating, “He has nuclear power.” It is unusual for President Trump to explicitly refer to North Korea as a nuclear-armed country.
In a photo from January 20th (local time), President Trump is seen holding up a signed executive order during an indoor presidential inauguration parade held in Washington. The image is provided by AP and Yonhap News.
President Trump made these comments while sitting at the Oval Office desk, signing multiple executive orders and engaging in a Q&A session with reporters. When a reporter asked what outgoing President Joe Biden identified as a major security threat, similar to how former President Barack Obama pointed to North Korea as a threat at the start of Trump’s first term, Trump responded spontaneously.
The U.S. government has not previously recognized North Korea as a nuclear power. However, the recent use of the term “status of nuclear power” by Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth during his confirmation hearings has sparked controversy. With President Trump’s similar remarks, there are concerns about whether the U.S. might be recognizing North Korea as a nuclear state.
Regarding Kim Jong-un, President Trump said, “People saw him as a tremendous threat, but I liked him and got along very well with him.” He added, “I think he would be happy that I’m back.” Trump, known for his real estate background, also commented on Kim’s “tremendous condo capabilities along the shoreline,” indicating his long-time interest in the potential for developing North Korea’s tourism resources.