Donald Trump has publicly defended North Korea's possession of nuclear weapons, stating he has no objection to the country holding such an arsenal because of his personal affinity for its leader, Kim Jong Un.
The remarks represent a striking departure from longstanding international efforts to pressure Pyongyang into denuclearisation, with Trump appearing to frame his foreign policy position around his personal relationship with the North Korean dictator rather than strategic or security considerations.
Trump's comments signal a potentially significant shift in how a returning Trump administration might approach one of the world's most sensitive security flashpoints, with the US president suggesting that his warm feelings toward Kim Jong Un are enough to set aside concerns about North Korea's nuclear capabilities.
