Trump claimed Kim Jong Un missed him. The North Korea leader has a different message

Mon Nov 25 07:10:00 UTC 2024: ## Kim Jong Un Rejects Trump’s Claim of Mutual Affection, Accuses US of Hostile Policy

**PYONGYANG, NORTH KOREA** – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has directly contradicted former US President Donald Trump’s assertion that Kim “misses” him, instead accusing the United States of maintaining an aggressive and hostile policy that has destabilized international relations. Kim’s remarks, delivered at a defense expo in Pyongyang this week, come amidst escalating tensions between the two countries and follow Trump’s summer campaign claims that a second Trump term would improve relations.

Throughout 2024, North Korea has repeatedly signaled its unwillingness to engage with the US. A state news agency previously dismissed the significance of US elections, highlighting the perceived unchanging nature of US policy regardless of who is in power. This stance directly counters Trump’s optimistic assessment of their relationship.

Despite Trump’s past meetings with Kim, relations have continued to deteriorate. The US continues joint military exercises with South Korea, while North Korea presses ahead with its nuclear weapons program and provides support to Russia in its war against Ukraine. Experts, such as Professor Hwang Ji-hwan of the University of Seoul, suggest Kim is determined to avoid a repeat of the perceived diplomatic setbacks from the Trump era, highlighting the failure to reach an agreement on denuclearization and sanctions relief despite three summits between 2018 and 2019.

The history of the relationship between Trump and Kim has been marked by dramatic shifts from fiery rhetoric to attempts at diplomacy. Trump’s past insults and threats were met with equally harsh responses from North Korea. However, the current situation shows a clear lack of progress, with North Korea strengthening its ties with Russia, including the deployment of troops to support the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. This deepening alliance further complicates the already strained relationship between the US and North Korea.