US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he doesn’t know the real health status of North Korea Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, but he still wishes him well.
“I wish him well, we’ve had a good relationship,” Trump said at a White House briefing on Tuesday in response to a question about Kim Jong Un.
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“We don’t know” if the reports about Kim getting ill are true, he added. “Good luck,” Trump said.
According to the reports CNN’s Jim Scuitto, “the US is monitoring intelligence that suggests North Korea’s leader is in grave danger after undergoing a previous surgery, according to a US official with direct knowledge.”
National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien said the US is “keeping a close eye” on reports about Kim’s health.
“We’re monitoring these reports very closely,” O’Brien said during an interview with Fox News Tuesday. “As you know, North Korea is a very closed society,” he said.
Kim’s absence in the birthday celebration of his grandfather on April 15 sparked speculations about his health condition. He had been seen four days before that at a government meeting.
Daily NK, an online newspaper in South Korea that focuses on North Korea, said Kim reportedly received a cardiovascular system surgery on April 12.
The news site said Kim received had the procedure because of “excessive smoking, obesity, and overwork.” Kim is now receiving treatment in a villa in Hyangsan County following his procedure, the site added.
Relationship of Trump and Kim Jong Un
President Trump and Kim met three times. They even crossed the Korean Demilitarized Zone last summer and said they had developed a strong relationship.
“I’ve had a very good relationship with him,” Trump said.
Trump has previously described “falling in love” with Kim and exchanging glowing letters that highlighted their unusual relationship.
The US President said last week he received a “nice note” from Kim recently. “I think we’re doing fine,” Trump said at the time.
Pyongyang however, later denied that Kim sent Trump the said the latter and accused the president of evoking the personal relationship for “selfish purposes.”
Asked whether he would attempt to contact Kim Trump said he might. “I may,” Trump said. “I just hope he’s doing fine.”