TRUMP CONTRADICTS BOLTON, EXPRESSES CONFIDENCE IN KIM
President Donald Trump appeared to contradict his national security adviser on foreign soil in an early-morning tweet Sunday, noting that while some in his administration were “disturbed” by North Korea’s testing of ballistic missiles earlier this month, the president himself was not bothered.
In the missive, Trump also used North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as a foil against a domestic political rival - former vice president Joe Biden - and complicated his relationship with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the first full day of his visit here. Trump’s tweet was a direct rebuke of his national security adviser, John Bolton, who
But Trump’s tweet, at roughly 7:30 a.m., seemed to undo Bolton’s tough talk and undermined his national security adviser
on Saturday had warned reporters here that there is “no doubt” North Korea’s missile tests violated United Nations Security Council resolutions.
“North Korea fired off some small weapons, which disturbed some of my people, and others, but not me,” Trump wrote. “I have confidence that Chairman Kim will keep his promise to me.”
The small weapons Trump referred to were short-range ballistic missiles, one of which flew nearly 300 miles before landing in the sea. That is a direct threat to U.S. ally South Korea, while medium-range missiles would also put Japan in range. Japan also described North Korea’s last test as short-range ballistic missiles, in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions, but noted that they did not land within Japanese waters or directly threaten its security.
But Trump’s tweet, at roughly 7:30 a.m., seemed to undo Bolton’s tough talk and undermined his national security adviser.