Trump and Kim Jong Un, apparently still friendly, blame their hawkish advisers for deteriorating ties

(Image credit: Getty Images)

published 10 May 2019

On Thursday, North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles in the morning and the U.S. seized a North Korean vessel for violating international sanctions later in the day, underscoring the increased bilateral tensions after President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's failed peace summit in February. "Nobody's happy about it," Trump told reporters Thursday. "They're talking about negotiating, but I don't think they're ready to negotiate."

But the relationship between Kim and Trump is still warm, The Washington Post reports:

Last month, Trump sent Kim a "happy birthday" letter commemorating the birth date of his grandfather, Kim Il Sung, and expressed interest in future engagements following the collapse of their meeting in February in Hanoi."He sends him pictures. He sends him letters. I don't know how President Trump can be more forthcoming in his efforts to have a good relationship with Kim Jong Un," National Security Adviser John Bolton told PBS NewsHour. In building a rapport, Trump and Kim have talked about basketball, pop culture and even video games, U.S. officials said, while slapping down hawkish advisers who disappoint them. [The Washington Post]

On May 4, right after Kim ended a 500-day pause in missile launches, Trump tweeted that Kim "knows that I am with him & does not want to break his promise to me. Deal will happen." To salvage a deal, Trump and Kim have given dovishness a chance, the Post reports.

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Trump's main North Korea dove is Steve Biegun, a former Ford executive. In April, Kim demoted his hard-line denuclearization point man Kim Yong Chol and elevated Vice Premier Choe Son Hui, a diplomat with experience negotiating with the U.S., the Post reports. Kim also ordered Choe to criticize Trump's main hawks, and Trump joined in, gently, on Thursday: "John's very good," and "he has strong views on things, but that's okay. I actually temper John, which is pretty amazing isn't it?" Read more details at The Washington Post.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.