Donald Trump wishes North Korean leader would ‘disappear’

The official, who spoke to CNN on condition of anonymity, declined to give further details on how or when General Ri Yong-gil, chief of the North Korean Army’s general staff, was executed.

When Trump was asked if that meant assassinating the leader, the billionaire shrugged.

“Well, you know, I’ve heard of worse things, frankly”, said Trump, fresh off his decisive victory Tuesday in New Hampshire. He adds: “China has control, absolute control over North Korea … and they should make that problem disappear”.

The presidential candidate said he would work with emerging superpower China to deal “economically” with the rogue Asian nation. “Any young guy that can take over from his father, with all those generals … that probably want that position, this is not somebody to be underestimating”.

Trump noted that the USA trade imbalance with China is a major point of leverage that he would use to force the Chinese to act.

“But if my joke makes people look at it in a serious fashion, or look at it at all, then at least they’ve looked at it”.

The report came at a time of highly elevated tensions on the divided Korean peninsula following the North’s recent nuclear test and long-range rocket launch. They’re taking our money, they’re taking our jobs and doing so much. Once again, we can see how easy it is for USA items to be diverted to places and people where they are not supposed to go. “I’m going to stop them anyway to a certain extent, but maybe I’d stop them more forcefully”.

In Japan, sanctions are likely to extend to third-party dealers who provide North Korea with supplies that could be used by Pyongyang’s military.

The United States said on Thursday it had no reason to doubt reports that North Korea executed its army chief of staff, describing it as typical of Pyongyang’s brutal political climate. He said the USA should’ve forced Iran, an ally of North Korea, to end its partnership.