Trump doubts over the reports of North Korean executions
Shannon (Ireland), Jun.6(HS): U.S. President Donald Trump on seems having casted doubt on reports of North Korean executions as part of a ire in the aftermath of a failed Hanoi summit and lamented that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was blamed too quickly.
When asked by reporters about South Korean reports that North Korea administrator had executed a top diplomat, Trump said, “I don’t know if the reports are correct.” “They like to blame Kim Jong Un immediately,” Trump said during an appearance with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar.
Recently, Trump has been siding with autocratic leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin over U.S. intelligence findings that Russia had attempted to rig the 2016 presidential election. Even In May last, he said he agreed with the North Korean leader’s criticism of former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, a Democratic presidential candidate.
South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo last week reported that nuclear envoy Kim Hyok Chol was executed in March along with four foreign ministry officials after they were charged with spying for the United States. But there is no any confirmation to any media independently
Meanwhile, CNN reported on Tuesday, however, that Kim Hyok Chol was alive and in state custody. The South Korean newspaper said earlier that the former top nuclear negotiator, Kim Yong Chol, had been sent to a labour camp. He was then pictured on Monday in a state media photo accompanying Kim Jong Un to an art performance. In his comments, Trump appeared to mistake the senior official who was reported to have been sent to hard labour for the negotiator who was reported to have been executed.
