Trump Shares Throwback Photo With Kim Jong Un, Says ‘We Get Along Great’

Washington, DC: US President Donald Trump on Saturday shared a throwback photograph featuring North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, using the image to highlight what he described as the strong rapport between the two leaders despite their stern expressions in the picture.

“Despite the unfriendly look on this particular picture, there are many where we’re smiling,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social, adding that he and Kim “get along GREAT.”

Trump’s comments came as tensions surrounding military activities on the Korean Peninsula continued to rise. North Korea has strongly criticised the upcoming US-South Korea joint military exercises, arguing that the drills could further increase regional tensions.

The annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises are scheduled to begin on August 17 and run through August 27. The training is expected to cover a range of scenarios, including responses to drone threats, GPS disruptions and cyberattacks, reflecting efforts by Washington and Seoul to prepare for North Korea’s evolving military capabilities.

Pyongyang has repeatedly condemned joint military exercises involving the United States and South Korea, portraying them as preparations for potential military action against North Korea.

On Friday, North Korea’s Foreign Ministry also criticised growing military cooperation among the United States, Japan and South Korea. According to state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), a ministry spokesperson warned that the three-way security partnership was developing into what Pyongyang described as a “nuclear alliance.”

The spokesperson said North Korea would respond to what it considers a heightened security threat by strengthening its deterrence capabilities.

Pyongyang also objected to the nature of the forthcoming exercises, claiming that they differ from drills conducted in previous years and focus more heavily on modern warfare capabilities.

The latest rhetoric from North Korea comes amid renewed concerns over its missile programme. On August 12, Pyongyang carried out what South Korea described as a suspected ballistic missile launch, marking its second such launch in less than a week.

Yonhap News Agency, citing South Korea’s military, reported that the projectile was fired toward the East Sea. The US Pacific Command confirmed a missile launch but did not publicly characterise it specifically as a ballistic missile.

Trump’s latest remarks about Kim revive memories of his unprecedented diplomatic engagement with the North Korean leader during his previous presidency. The two leaders held several meetings and exchanged high-profile statements, although their negotiations over North Korea’s nuclear programme ultimately failed to produce a lasting agreement.

The contrasting messages from Washington and Pyongyang come just days before the start of the US-South Korea drills, with both sides continuing to signal sharply different views on regional security and military preparedness.