Trump: "North Korea's Kim Jong-un Displayed Jang Song-thaek's Corpse to Officials After Execution"

AFP "Woodward's New Book Contains Such Content"
Background of Hanoi Summit 'No Deal' Also Revealed

U.S. President Donald Trump is speaking before boarding 'Air Force One' at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on the 10th (local time). (AP=Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] It has been reported that North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un displayed the headless body of his uncle Jang Song-thaek to high-ranking North Korean officials after executing him, according to U.S. President Donald Trump.

On the 11th (local time), according to an excerpt from "Rage," a book by Watergate journalist Bob Woodward set to be published next week and reported by AFP, President Trump explained this during an interview with Woodward, saying, "(Kim Jong-un) tells everything. He told me everything." Trump said, "Kim Jong-un killed his uncle and placed the body on the stairs. His severed head was placed on his chest." AFP noted that the location referred to a building used by senior North Korean officials.

Jang Song-thaek was the husband of Kim Kyong-hui, Kim Jong-un's aunt and former secretary of the Workers' Party. He was executed in December 2013 on charges of plotting to overthrow the state. He was accused of treason and corruption. AFP explained that although there were various reports at the time, including that anti-aircraft guns were used in Jang Song-thaek's execution, the exact method of execution was never officially confirmed.

Trump's remarks at the time are analyzed to have been made with the intention of emphasizing his close relationship with Kim Jong-un.

Additionally, Woodward's new book includes anecdotes from the Hanoi summit in Vietnam last February, which ended in a "no deal." According to the book, President Trump demanded that Kim Jong-un give up five North Korean nuclear facilities.

At the time, Trump said, "One doesn't help, two don't help, three don't help, four don't help. Five helps." Kim Jong-un countered that Yongbyon was the largest of North Korea's nuclear facilities, and Trump responded, "That is the oldest one."

However, when Kim Jong-un did not offer any further concessions, Trump told him, "You are not ready to make a deal. I have to leave," the book reports.

Earlier, in a Fox News interview in May last year, President Trump also revealed that during the Hanoi summit, Kim Jong-un wanted to dismantle only one or two of the five nuclear sites in North Korea, but Trump demanded additional dismantling of the others as well.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.