Trump calls Kim Jong Un a "friend" when asked why North Korea can have nukes and Iran can't
Asked on Tuesday why North Korea can hold nuclear weapons while Iran cannot, Trump said Kim Jong Un is a friend who respects him and blamed a previous president. Outlets differ on how much weight to give the remarks and on the wider Iran war context.
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The story, neutrally told
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump described North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as a friend when a reporter asked why Iran should not have nuclear weapons while North Korea does. NewsweekN “President Donald Trump on Tuesday described North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as a “friend” when asked why Iran should not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons while North Korea already possesses them.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Al JazeeraLC “after a reporter asked him why North Korea could have nuclear weapons but Iran could not.” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ Trump answered that there had been a different president, and said Kim likes him and respects him. NewsweekN ““Ahh, because you had a different president. Kim Jong Un. He’s a friend of mine. He likes Trump. I like him,”” Read at Newsweek ↗ Al JazeeraLC ““That’s interesting. You know why? Because you had a different president, and they could have stopped him,”” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ He added, “as long as I’m around, he’s going to be fine.” NewsweekN ““As long as I’m around, he’s going to be fine,” Trump continued.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Al JazeeraLC ““You know what, as long as I’m around, he’s going to be fine,”” Read at Al Jazeera ↗
According to Al Jazeera, Trump called North Korea's nuclear capacity "pretty large" but "not like us". Al JazeeraLC “He said North Korea’s nuclear capacity was “pretty large” but “not like us”.” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ Al Jazeera notes that South Korea's defence minister said last week the North has 80 to 120 warheads, well above Trump's claim of 57 made on August 19. Al JazeeraLC “South Korea’s Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back said last week that its northern neighbour possessed between 80 and 120 nuclear warheads.” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ NewsweekN “On August 19, Trump said he expected to meet Kim later this year and said North Korea had 57 “very powerful” nuclear weapons.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Trump wants to revive talks with Kim and has said he expects to meet this year, but Al Jazeera says North Korea has not formally committed to a meeting. Al JazeeraLC “But North Korea has not formally committed to such a meeting.” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ NewsweekN “Trump has repeatedly emphasized his personal relationship with Kim as he seeks to revive direct talks with the North Korean leader.” Read at Newsweek ↗
The remarks come during a US-Iran conflict that began on February 28 and is now in indirect talks through mediators including Qatar. Al JazeeraLC “The US president launched the war along with Israel on February 28, saying Iran could not have a nuclear weapon.” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ NewsweekN “U.S. and Iranian officials have continued indirect talks through mediators, including Qatar” Read at Newsweek ↗ Both outlets recall that Trump withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal in 2018. NewsweekN “Trump withdrew the United States from the agreement in 2018 and restored U.S. sanctions on Iran.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Al JazeeraLC “But Trump abandoned the agreement during his first term in 2018.” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ Newsweek quotes analyst Rajan Menon saying North Korea's arsenal is no model, and that a nonproliferation stance cannot rest on the argument that they already have them. NewsweekN ““If you stand for nonproliferation, you can't say it's OK because they already have them,”” Read at Newsweek ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Presents the remarks as Trump downplaying North Korea's arsenal, set against a war on Iran that has hurt his standing.
- Emphasis
- Fact-checks Trump's warhead figure, the cost of the Iran war and Trump's political pressure before the midterms, and notes Pyongyang has not committed to a meeting.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not include outside expert comment or mention the September 20 missile launches or the indirect talks via Qatar.
- Charged language
- “plays down”
- For example
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“The US-Israel war on Iran has disrupted global energy supplies, raised fuel costs and hurt Trump’s popularity ahead of the November midterm elections.” — Al Jazeera
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Reports the exchange as a contrast in Trump's approach to North Korea and Iran, with an academic's critique.
- Emphasis
- Expert commentary on nonproliferation and deterrence, recent North Korean missile launches and the status of US-Iran talks.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not cite South Korea's higher warhead estimate or the political and economic effects of the Iran war on Trump.
- For example
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“North Korea has continued developing and testing weapons even as Trump has expressed interest in renewed talks with Kim.” — Newsweek
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Trump called Kim Jong Un a friend on Tuesday when asked about North Korea's nukes versus Iran's.
- Trump said the difference was a different previous president and said 'as long as I'm around, he's going to be fine'.
- Trump and Kim met in 2018 and 2019 without a lasting deal.
- Trump withdrew the US from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal in 2018.
- Trump has said he expects to meet Kim again this year.
Where accounts differ
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How to characterise the remarks
- Left
- Al Jazeera says Trump 'played down' North Korea's arsenal and sets his 57-warhead figure against a South Korean estimate of 80-120.
- Centre
- Newsweek reports the remarks as Trump distinguishing North Korea from Iran on the basis of his personal relationship, and adds outside expert comment.
Donald Trump person
Says Kim is a friend who likes and respects him, attributes North Korea's arsenal to a previous president, and seeks renewed talks.
““As long as I’m around, he’s going to be fine,” Trump continued. “You know why? He respects me.”” — Newsweek
“I’m about the only person in the entire world that he likes, and I like him,”” — Al Jazeera
Kim Jong Un person
Has not spoken in these reports; Al Jazeera says North Korea has not formally committed to a meeting and Kim has expanded his missile arsenal.
“But North Korea has not formally committed to such a meeting.” — Al Jazeera
Iran place
Iran is described as not having nuclear weapons; Al Jazeera says it denies seeking one and points to the 2015 deal.
“Iran has denied seeking a weapon, noting it had signed an agreement with world powers in 2015” — Al Jazeera
“Iran does not currently possess nuclear weapons, but it has maintained a nuclear program that includes uranium enrichment.” — Newsweek
Left1 article
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Trump calls Kim Jong Un a ‘friend’ and plays down N Korea’s nuclear arsenal
Critical Frames Trump as minimising North Korea's arsenal, contrasting his claims with South Korean figures and the costs of the Iran war.
Centre1 article
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Trump Says 'Friend' Kim Jong Un Sets North Korea Apart From Iran on Nukes
Neutral Straight report of the exchange with an academic critic and background on the JCPOA and US-Iran talks.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 30 Sep 02:23 First NewsweekN Trump Says 'Friend' Kim Jong Un Sets North Korea Apart From Iran on Nukes
- 30 Sep 07:48 +5h 25m Al JazeeraLC Trump calls Kim Jong Un a ‘friend’ and plays down N Korea’s nuclear arsenal
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.