Donald Trump, the President of the United States, on his first day in office on the 20th (local time), mentioned North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, saying, "He has nuclear power." It is unusual for President Trump to explicitly refer to North Korea as a nuclear state.
President Trump made these remarks while sitting at the desk in the Oval Office at the White House, signing several executive orders and holding a question-and-answer session with reporters. When a reporter asked what threat President Joe Biden, who left office that day, had identified, similar to how former President Barack Obama pointed out North Korea as a major security threat to then-president Trump at the start of his first term, it was an impromptu answer.
Until now, the U.S. government has not recognized North Korea's "nuclear state" status. However, recently, Pete Hagseth, a nominee for Secretary of Defense, caused controversy by using the expression "status of nuclear power" in his confirmation hearing responses. President Trump made similar statements that day, raising concerns that the U.S. might be recognizing North Korea as a nuclear power.
President Trump remarked about Kim Jong Un, "People saw him as a tremendous threat, but I liked him and got along very well with him," adding, "I think he will be pleased that I am back." He also said, "He has tremendous condo capabilities on the coast." As a former real estate developer, Trump has focused on the potential for developing North Korea's tourism resources for a long time.