Foreign affairs

Trump Isn’t Ready for Kim Jong Un’s Death

The internet is ablaze with rumors, chatter and circular reporting about North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s whereabouts. U.S. and regional media have variously reported that Kim is recovering from heart surgery, in “grave danger,” “in a vegetative state” or even dead, setting off a torrent of speculation about who might succeed him and the implications for regime stability. President Donald Trump did little to shed light on the rumors, stating first, “I’ve had a very good relationship with him. I can only say this, I wish him well,” and later adding, “I do know how he’s doing, relatively speaking. … You will probably be hearing in the not-too-distant future.” Trump also boasted, “If somebody else were in this position, we would’ve been right now at war with North Korea.”

Trump has often bragged about his approach to North Korea, touting his relationship with Kim in and of itself as progress toward bilateral ties and denuclearization. But Kim’s absence is now showing us just how fragile Trump’s approach really is.