President says visit gave Kim credibility

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Friday that his historic meeting with Kim Jong Un gave credibility to the North Korean leader, whom critics call a brutal dictator.

“He’s the head of a country, and I mean he’s the strong head,” Trump told Fox News Channel. “Don’t let anyone think anything different. He speaks and his people sit up at attention. I want my people to do the same.”

It was unclear whether Trump was referring to the American people or only to his staff. His interview with Fox & Friends co-host Steve Doocy took place along the West Wing driveway, and as the president talked about “my people” he gestured toward the White House.

Later, when pressed by a CNN reporter about the comment, Trump said it had been a joke.

“I’m kidding,” he said. Admonishing the journalist, the president added, “You don’t understand sarcasm.”

During his Fox interview, Trump praised Kim and said “it’s great to give him credibility.” He noted that he gave Kim “a very direct number” and instructed him to “call me if he has any difficulties.”

Critics feared the meeting would elevate Kim’s status as a credible leader in the world. The two leaders met Tuesday in Singapore to discuss denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The president saw the meeting as a positive development.

“We have a really great relationship for the first time ever,” Trump told Doocy. “No president’s ever had this. So I get hit by these fakes back here” — he pointed to a group of journalists who were gathered behind him on the driveway — “not all of them, some are phenomenal, but I get hit because I went there, I gave him credibility. I think it’s great to give him credibility.”

In the Fox & Friends interview, Trump reaffirmed that U.S. sanctions against North Korea would remain until it was clear “there are no more nuclear.” Just days ago, when he returned to the United States, Trump declared, “There is no longer a nuclear threat” from North Korea.

Trump also said Friday that hosting Kim at the White House “is something that could happen” as one result of the summit in Singapore.

“We have a great chemistry together,” he said. “That’s a good thing, not a bad thing.”

Trump also defended his salute of one of Kim’s generals, footage of which was released Thursday by North Korean state media as propaganda.

“I met a general,” Trump said on Fox. “He saluted me and I saluted him back. I guess they’re using that as another sound bite. You know, I think I’m being respectful to the general.”

After his interview with the Fox host, Trump was pressed by reporters about Kim’s record of human-rights atrocities and why he had not more forcefully challenged the North Korean dictator.

Trump replied that he was trying to cultivate a friendship with Kim to avoid military conflict, telling one reporter, “Because I don’t want to see a nuclear weapon destroy you and your family.”

“I can only speak to the fact that we signed an incredible agreement,” Trump said. “It’s great. It’s going to be great for them, too, because now North Korea can develop, and North Korea can become a great country economically.”

He added: “It can become whatever they want. But there won’t be nuclear weapons, and they won’t be aimed at you and your family.”

Trump touted the broad agreement he reached with Kim and said the North Koreans already have begun returning the remains of U.S. soldiers missing during the Korean War.