Trump's Love for Kim Jong-un? "Says to Those Around Him That They Keep in Touch Even After Leaving Office"

NYT Reporter Reveals in New Book... "Trump Is the Only Leader Who Maintains Contact"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] There are claims that former U.S. President Donald Trump said to those around him that he has maintained contact with North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un even after leaving office. Amid North Korea's recent missile launch tests and other pressures aimed at bringing the Joe Biden administration to the negotiating table, it is interpreted that former President Trump values his friendship with Chairman Kim and flaunts it.

On the 10th (local time), the American internet media Axios reported that Maggie Haberman, a New York Times reporter who covered the White House during the Trump administration, included such content in her upcoming book titled "The Conman," set to be published in October. Haberman appeared on CNN that day and, while noting that Trump's words and actual events do not always match, said, "He has told people that he maintained some kind of correspondence or discussions with Chairman Kim."

In the interview, Haberman clarified that while it is not uncommon for former presidents to maintain contact with other heads of state or former leaders, she believes Chairman Kim is the only foreign leader with whom former President Trump claims to still be in contact, highlighting the unusual nature of the situation. She also mentioned that a photo of Chairman Kim hangs on the office wall of Trump's residence, saying, "It was a very important relationship to him. Considering who Kim Jong-un is, this is very surprising." However, she did not provide specific details about the photo.

It is known that since the North Korea-U.S. denuclearization talks began in earnest in 2018, former President Trump exchanged at least 27 letters, known as "love letters," with Chairman Kim. Recently, there were reports that Trump violated related regulations requiring presidential records to be handed over to the National Archives by taking these letters to his Florida residence during his tenure, and they were later retrieved.

Haberman said in the interview that Trump often shook these letters not only during his White House tenure but also at his Florida residence, stating, "He would keep the letters in a box and then take them out to show them."

Regarding this, Jenny Town, director of the U.S. North Korea specialist media 38 North, mentioned the possibility that former President Trump may have exaggerated and only exchanged greetings, but pointed out, "If (the continued contact) is true, having substantive conversations without any consultation or cooperation with the White House would be very problematic and could potentially backfire against U.S. interests." In the United States, under the Logan Act enacted in 1799, it is stipulated that U.S. citizens engaging in "diplomatic negotiations" with foreign governments without government approval are subject to felony prosecution.

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