Washington: US President Donald Trump pushed back at a report that he hadsuggested he had a good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un,saying he had been misquoted.
The Wall Street Journal quoted Trump as saying in an interview on Thursday:”I probably have a very good relationship with Kim Jong-Un.”
But the White House insisted he said “I’d,” not “I”, and Trump followed upin a tweet on Sunday.
“Obviously I didn’t say that. I said ‘I’d have a good relationship with KimJong Un,’ a big difference. Fortunately we now record conversations withreporters,” he tweeted.
“And they knew exactly what I said and meant. They just wanted a story.FAKE NEWS!”
Both The Wall Street Journal and the White House posted audio recordings ofTrump’s remarks on Twitter.
These, while not completely clear, appeared to support White House presssecretary Sarah Sanders’ account. She had earlier tweeted a written messagedisputing the newspaper’s article.
“President Trump said, I’D probably have a very good relationship with KimJong Un of North Korea. I’D — I’D — I’D. NOT I!” the message read, with”I’D” in red ink, under a red banner reading “FAKE NEWS.”
Mockingly mimicking the newspaper’s front page, it then reads “THE WALLSTREET JOURNAL — FAKE NEWS IS AT IT AGAIN! — FALSELY QUOTING PRESIDENTTRUMP.”
Washington and Pyongyang are in a standoff over North Korea’s missile andnuclear programs, which could be used to target the United States and itsallies.
Trump has repeatedly insulted the North Korean leader, describing him asmad and a “rocket man.”
Asked by The Wall Street Journal if he had spoken to Kim, Trump said: “Idon’t want to comment on it. I’m not saying I have or haven’t. I just don’twant to comment.”
Trump suggested his variable position on individuals was part of a broaderstrategy.
But it was not clear how his remarks fitted with his self-described policyof “maximum pressure” on Pyongyang.
In the coming week the United States and Canada are to host a meeting inVancouver on the nuclear standoff with North Korea, bringing togetherfriendly powers from around the world.