President Donald Trump don come out yarn say di leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un, use one derogatory term describe former President Joe Biden mental fitness. Trump talk am during one White House press conference wey hold on Monday, as e dey complain say many allied kontris, including South Korea, no dey assist America well well for Iran matter.
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“We get 45,000 soldiers for South Korea to protect us from Kim Jong Un, wey I dey get along with very well as you sabi,” Trump tell reporters. “E talk very nice things about me,” Trump yarn about di North Korean autocrat. “E dey call Joe Biden mentally r******* person…Joe Biden, e talk say e na mentally r******* person. E too nasty to Joe Biden, e terrible. But to me e like Trump.”
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Kim Jong Un, wey become di kontri supreme leader for 2011, and other senior North Korean officials don spend years dey throw insults at America. For 2014, di kontri deputy permanent representative to United Nations, Ri Tong Il, refer to America as “evil empire.” For 2023, di supreme leader sister, Kim Yo Jong, lash out at Biden over im warning say North Korean nuclear aggression go bring end to im regime. E describe di former president as senile, but warn say im brother government no go dismiss Biden words as “nonsensical remark from di person for im dotage.”
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Even though Trump dey tout im warm relationship with Kim, dem no spare am from di North Korean leader scathing criticism. During Trump first term for office, di autocrat deride am as “dotard,” “frightened dog” and “gangster wey like play with fire.” Trump become di first sitting US president meet Kim for 2018. E meet am for two other occasions, while e dey boast of “love letters” wey e receive from di North Korean leader.
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But dem talk about denuclearizing di Korean peninsula no yield success, and di kontri don conduct multiple missile tests for recent years. Di latest test happen for late March, as di kontri dey try create arsenal wey fit reach America. Despite dis, Trump tell reporters: “You notice how nice things dey with North Korea. E very nice.”
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Trump new comments on Biden na just di latest for long string of personal attacks on di 83-year-old former president mental health. Trump, 79, don accuse Biden of suffering from “serious cognitive decline.” During presidential debate for 2024, e claim Biden “no even know wetin e dey talk.” Biden withdraw from di White House race for July 2024 amid mounting concerns about im physical and mental health.
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At di same time, Trump dey routinely trumpet im own mental prowess, claim during March Cabinet meeting say e na di only president wey don take cognitive exam. “But I ace am. I get perfect score,” e yarn.
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Meanwhile, for South Korea side, US Senator Roger Wicker, chairman of di Senate Armed Services Committee, for Wednesday criticize Pentagon strategy wey go shift more responsibility for deterring North Korea onto Seoul. Wicker call di approach “abdication.” Di Mississippi Republican make di remarks for pre-recorded congratulatory address to di Asan Plenum, policy forum for Seoul wey di Asan Institute for Policy Studies host.
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Wicker talk say US alliances with South Korea and Japan remain essential for confronting threats from China and wetin e describe as “nuclear-armed and now battle-hardened North Korea.” But e warn say some officials for Washington dey increasingly view such alliances “with derision.” “These officials don begin eschew mutual burden sharing and propose new term dem dey call ‘burden shifting,'” Wicker talk. “For such arrangement, America go abruptly transfer conventional deterrence responsibility away from United States and give am to our allies.”
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Im remarks come as di administration of US President Donald Trump dey press allies for Europe and Asia to increase defense spending and take on greater share of regional security responsibilities. Pentagon National Defense Strategy wey dem release for January call for South Korea to assume leading role for deterring North Korean threats. “South Korea capable of taking primary responsibility for deterring North Korea with critical but more limited US support,” di strategy state.
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“This shift for balance of responsibility consistent with America interest for updating US alliances across di Korean Peninsula.” Wicker don be vocal critic of di strategy, argue during Senate hearing for January say e place too much responsibility on allies, including European nations wey dey support Ukraine against Russia invasion.
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While e dey call for modernization of di US-South Korea alliance to reflect evolving threats and capabilities, Wicker talk for Wednesday say any changes suppose reinforce deterrence against Pyongyang. “These reforms suppose leave us stronger and safer,” e talk. “Dem no suppose detract from our focus on North Korea.” E warn say di concept of “burden shifting” risk signaling reduced US commitment to allies.
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“E suggest say United States get limited stake for conflicts wey erupt or fit erupt for key regions,” Wicker talk. “E suggest abdication, not collective responsibility.” “And if get any words to describe di alliance between di United States and di Republic of Korea, those words na ‘collective responsibility,'” e add.
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Wicker don long advocate strengthening deterrence against North Korea, including expanding joint military exercises and explore NATO-style nuclear-sharing arrangements for di region. Chung Mong-joon, founder and honorary chairman of di Asan Institute, echo calls for stronger nuclear posture, suggest di United States consider redeploying tactical nuclear weapons to South Korea.
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“We must prepare to discuss options wey dem once consider difficult,” Chung talk for opening remarks at di plenum. “This include di redeployment of several dozen US tactical nuclear weapons to South Korea, wey United States withdraw from South Korea for 1991, with di end of Cold War.” Di United States still deploy about 100 tactical nuclear weapons for five European kontris, Chung note. “Why not for South Korea?” “Nuclear weapons fit dey deter only by nuclear weapons.”
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