When it comes to international issues and foreign affairs, North Korea and their ability to build a nuclear weapon is always a top priority for the United States. After North Korea announced it was close to testing out their own nukes that could possibly reach the United States, Donald Trump responded on Twitter.
Trump on Twitter
North Korea might be a small country in size, but their leadership under Kim Jong Un makes them an unstable global powerhouse. During his speech on New Year's Day, Kim elaborated on where the country stands on the issue of nuclear weapons.
"Research and development of cutting edge arms equipment is actively progressing and ICBM rocket test launch preparation is in its last stage," the North Korean leader said. Over the last decade, North Korea has been under tight sanctions and restrictions by the United Nations, which were made even more crippling last September. In response, President-elect Donald Trump voiced his thoughts with a threat on Twitter on January 2.
North Korea just stated that it is in the final stages of developing a nuclear weapon capable of reaching parts of the U.S. It won't happen!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2017
"North Korea just stated that it is in the final stages of developing a nuclear weapon capable of reaching parts of the U.S." Donald Trump tweeted out Monday night, concluding with a threat that read, "It won't happen!" Trump has been controversial in his views on nuclear weapons, starting with comments made while speaking to MSNBC's Chris Matthews during the election where he said he would be OK with Japan using nukes to defend themselves.
Kim Jong Un's boast about a missile powerful enough to reach the US puts North Korea threat on Trump's front burner https://t.co/gAGwZqh9sy pic.twitter.com/NJ3bSgz8t7
— CNN (@CNN) January 2, 2017
Though Donald Trump is talking tough on North Korea now, he has made more favorable comments in the past. During a rally last January, Trump praised Kim Jong Un for how he runs his country.
"You've got to give him credit," Trump said, in regards to how the dictator handles his duties as leader. "It's incredible. He wiped out the uncle, he wiped out this one, that one," Trump pointed out, before adding, "This guy doesn't play games."
Moving forward
While it's unknown how Donald Trump will handle North Korea and other countries once he is sworn into office, critics warn that his inflammatory rhetoric couldn't be a negative for the United States on the world stage. In addition, Trump's unpredictable use of Twitter, which is expected to continue when he's in the White House, also hangs a cloud of uncertainty over the presidency.
