Advertisement
Donald Trump thinks report on ‘gravely ill’ Kim Jong-un was incorrect
- US president says he heard speculation on North Korean leader’s condition was based on ‘old documents
- Trump adds he has ‘good relationship’ with Kim but declined to say if he had been in touch with Pyongyang
Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
US President Donald Trump on Thursday threw more cold water on reports earlier this week that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was gravely ill, but declined to say if he had been in touch with officials there.
Advertisement
“I think the report was incorrect,” Trump said at a daily White House briefing, adding that he had heard it was based on “old documents.”
Trump had said on Tuesday that he might contact North Korean officials to inquire about Kim but gave no indication on Thursday he had done so. The two leaders have had regular communications over the past couple of years.
“We have a good relationship with North Korea, I have a good relationship with Kim Jong-un and I hope he’s OK,” Trump added.
Daily NK, a Seoul-based website, reported late on Monday that Kim, who is believed to be about 36, was recovering after undergoing a cardiovascular procedure on April 12. It cited one unnamed source in North Korea. The state-controlled media in North Korea has been silent on Kim’s whereabouts.
Two South Korean government officials rejected a subsequent CNN report citing an unnamed US official saying that the United States was “monitoring intelligence” that Kim was in grave danger after surgery.
Advertisement