Trump’s remarks on North Korea could spark Seoul’s nuclear rethink

“I would … I have a great relationship with Kim and we’ll see what happens, but certainly he’s a nuclear power,” the American leader said after being asked by reporters during an Oval Office meeting with Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte whether he had plans to reestablish relations with the hermit regime.

Since then, Pyongyang has consistently refused dialogue with Washington.

After testing the Hwasong-19 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile in October last year, Kim declared he would never diverge from the path of “strengthening nuclear deterrence” under any circumstances.