Trump willing to speak with Kim Jong Un
Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump says he's open to talking with North Korean premier Kim Jong Un, in contrast to his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton -- and in another notable break from his party's neoconservative establishment.
Trump made these remarks in a ranging interview with Reuters published Wednesday. Trump also said he wanted to renegotiate the international climate accord signed in Paris in December.
"I would speak to him, I would have no problem speaking to him," Trump said on talking to Kim Jon Un.
Trump said he would "absolutely" be interested in talking some sense into the young leader, when asked.
Trump thinks China can do more to scale down the North Korea proliferation crisis.
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"I would put a lot of pressure on China because economically we have tremendous power over China... China can solve that problem with one meeting or one phone call," Trump said.
Officially communist, China has been for decades North Korea's largest partner and defender, vetoing resolutions against the Hermit Kingdom at the UN Security Council. There are signs, though, that perhaps Russia is jockeying for that position. Trump of course has also spoken favorably of Russian and its president, Vladimir Putin.
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China seemed to welcome Trump's remarks.
"China supports direct talks and communication between the United States and North Korea. We believe this is beneficial," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.
Hillary Clinton's campaign took the opportunity to point out Trump's shifting alliances.
"Let me get this straight: Donald Trump insults the leader of our closest ally, then turns around and says he'd love to talk to Kim Jong Un," Clinton's senior foriegn adviser, Jake Sullivan, said in a statement.
Sullivan added that Trump "seems to have a bizarre fascination with foreign strongmen like Putin and Kim. But his approach to foreign policy makes no sense for the rest of us."
Trump recently conceded he might not have a great relationship U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron (if he is still leading Britain), given their past differences. Sullivan pounced on Trump's seeming shifting of America's traditional allies.
Trump's relative openness toward North Korea, combined his rhetoric on Russia and apparent willingness to keep the Iranian nuclear deal, signal Trump's continued estrangement from the neoconservative establishment that propelled and championed George W. Bush's presidency.
In 2008, then-Senator Barack Obama was hammered by Republicans for his willingness to engage with Iran. He was also criticized by Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, who neoconservatives are now reportedly considering supporting, potentially signally a party realignment, at least on foreign policy.
Copyright 2016 U.S. News & World Report
