Treason or respect? Trump draws ire for returning North Korean general’s salute

Just two days after meeting with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, President Donald Trump called “fake news” the country’s biggest threat.

The unprecedented encounter between the leader of the world’s most powerful democracy and the third-generation of the communist dictatorship was the first between sitting leaders of the two nations. North Korean news, which is entirely state-run, exclusively consists of statements that shine a positive light on Kim and the country.

“The meeting of the century awaited by the whole world finally took place” on Tuesday, the voiceover said to shots of Kim’s long motorcade en route to the summit venue on Sentosa island.

The odd moment was captured during Trump’s visit to Singapore for a summit with Kim this week, with North Korean state television broadcasting the footage Thursday. It’s a resounding success for Kim – and one that is likely to be exploited back home for political objective.

North Korean state media reported on Wednesday that Kim and Mr Trump had recognised the principle of “step-by-step and simultaneous action” to achieve peace and denuclearisation on the Korean peninsula.

Footage of the US President returning the salute of a North Korean general has set off his domestic critics, who have accused Donald Trump of showing respect for a “murderous regime” in Pyongyang. He also said Japan wanted USA troops to remain in South Korea.

After meeting with Kim, many were surprised when Trump spoke about joint military exercises, what he called “war games”, with South Korea.

In Tokyo on Friday, Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera reiterated that there was no change in Japan’s stance on joint military training with US and South Korean forces.

Annual large-scale exercises in the Korean Peninsula are done to ensure that evolving tactics, procedures and plans can be carried out smoothly, and that United States and South Korean forces are in sync.

He reportedly continued to swoon at North Korea’s displays, awestruck by how “tough” their soldiers were and quipping that they could probably beat up Chief of Staff John Kelly, a retired general. And money – especially the way Trump thinks the rest of the world takes advantage of the USA – was a theme the U.S. president returned to repeatedly in the post-summit press conference.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) sees no problem with Trump’s real estate ambitions.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a video reaction to the Trump-Kim summit in Singapore on June 12, 2018.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, right, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono, center, and South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha. “It has been 25 years since the North Korean nuclear issue popped up and there has been many, many diplomatic efforts and consultations and the Six Party talks, and it didn’t go anywhere”.

Trump’s ultimate insult is “weak”.