Donald Trump warns ‘major conflict’ with North Korea is ‘absolutely possible’ – and admits he thought presidency would be easier than his ‘previous life’
The US President also appeared to praise dictator Kim Jong-un who, aged 27, succeeded his father to become leader of the hermit state in 2011
DONALD Trump has sensationally warned that a “major conflict” between the US and North Korea is “absolutely” possible in an explosive interview.
The President spoke about the difficulty of negotiating with dictator Kim Jong-un amid rising tensions in the Korean peninsula.
Speaking with Reuters, he said: "There is a chance that we could end up having a major, major conflict with North Korea. Absolutely.
"We'd love to solve things diplomatically, but it's very difficult."
The billionaire firebrand then appeared to praise despot Kim who succeeded his late father Kim Jong-il as North Korean leader in 2011.
He said: "He's 27 years old. His father dies, took over a regime. So say what you want but that is not easy, especially at that age.
"I'm not giving him credit or not giving him credit, I'm just saying that's a very hard thing to do. As to whether or not he's rational, I have no opinion on it. I hope he's rational.”
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Trumps words of warning came as the US Navy's top officer warned the current crisis is the worst he has seen.
Admiral Harry B Harris Jr, Commander of US Pacific Command, said: "There is some whether Kim Jong-un has that capability today or whether he will soon, but I have to assume he has it, the capability is real, and that he’s moving towards it.
"The North Korean crisis is the worst I've ever seen.
"Kim Jong-un is making progress and all nations need to take this seriously because their missiles point in all directions."
President Trump, who was sworn into office on January 20, admitted he thought being the leader of the free world would be "easier".
He said: "I loved my previous life. I had so many things going. This is more work than in my previous life. I thought it would be easier."
Trump recently sent aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson to the troubled peninsula a move which Kim reportedly viewed as an act of aggression from the US.
While the North Korean dictator launched yet another ballistic missile which flopped spectacularly on launch.
The secretive country has vowed to continue its nuclear weapons programme despite pressure from the US and its sole major ally China.
Kim's maniacal government recently unleashed the country's biggest ever fire drill launching hundreds of rockets and field artillery simultaneously to mark the military’s 85th anniversary.
That show of military strength was followed by the release of a terrifying propaganda film in which the White House was destroyed in a devastating attack.
The Chinese Communist Party, Kim's number one trading partner, has repeatedly called for a return to talks on denuclearization of North Korea but has been reluctant to use economic pressure that could destabilize the hermit state.
Trump has made North Korea his top foreign policy priority, telling Security Council ambassadors at the White House this week that he was determined to address the crisis head-on.
"People have put blindfolds on for decades, and now it's time to solve the problem," he said.
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