Pres. Trump described N. Korean dictator Kim Jong Un today in admiring terms as a “pretty smart cookie.” The President said he would be honored to meet with the brutal dictator under the right circumstances. Kim Jong Un is said to be extremely brutal by even N. Korean standards. Reaction to the comments was immediate and highly critical.
The White House defended Trump’s comments, saying that sitting down with the dictator is preferable to going to war against him. Trump has on previous occasions called Kim Jong Un “a madman” whose unpredictability has made the entire global community unsafe.
Most criticism centers around the message that such a statement by the President of the U.S. sends to our allies who are in closed proximity to N. Korea. For years Kim has been steadfastly pursuing his quest to develop the ability to fire nuclear weapons long range. There is also the sentiment that meeting with heads of state who regularly, systematically violate human rights violates the core principles of this country and demeans the office of the presidency. Kim recently threatened that at any time he could launch a nuclear missile at the U.S.
