hankyoreh

US President Donald Trump speaks at an events at the White House in Washington DC on Feb. 23. (AP/Yonhap News)

US President Donald Trump said on Feb. 23 that he “would never say no” to the possibility of a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, but that it was “very late in the picture” under the current circumstances.

Speaking in an interview with Reuters at his office in the White House, Trump went on to say the US was “very angry at what [Kim has] done” in conducting a recent ballistic missile launch.

“Frankly, this [nuclear and missile program issue] should have been taken care of during the [Barack] Obama administration,” he continued.

Reuters interpreted Trump as saying that he would not rule out any possibility of a future meeting, but that it would be difficult at the current stage after the North’s ballistic missile launch.

“It’s very dangerous and very unacceptable . . . and very unfair to Japan,” Trump also said, in an indication of how seriously he views the North Korean nuclear and missile situation. During his election campaign last year, Trump said he would be willing to have dialogue with Kim “over a hamburger.”

In terms of a response to the North Korean nuclear program, Trump reiterates calls for a role from Beijing and plans to beef up the missile defense system. Acknowledging that he was aware of China’s ban on North Korean coal imports, Trump said, “China has tremendous control over North Korea.”

“I think they could solve the problem very easily if they want to,” he added in a message aimed at pressuring Beijing.

Trump also said accelerating the missile defense system for allies South Korea and Japan was “one of many things that can be done.”

Washington sources said Trump’s statements were more strongly worded than more delicate messages voiced on North Korea at his post-inauguration press conference and elsewhere, but added that North Korea policy was still in the early review stage and the possibility of negotiations was not being ruled out.

Trump’s renewed mention of steps to beef up nuclear capabilities also raised concerns about a possible new Cold War-era nuclear arms race between the US and Russia.

“We’re never going to fall behind any country . . . on nuclear power,” Trump declared in the interview.

“[I]f countries are going to have nukes, we’re going to be at the top of the pack.”

By Yi Yong-in, Washington correspondent

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]