President Trump was heavily criticised for his relationship with Kim Jong-un by Democrat rival Joe Biden last week, during their final debate before the US election. He accused the leader of befriending a “thug” and legitimising the dictatorship by meeting him multiple times. President Trump, who was the first US president to set foot on North Korean soil last year, claimed that he avoided “nuclear war” thanks to his “very good relationship” with Kim. Despite his claims, the relationship with North Korea has not been easy and one regular visitor to the state told Express.co.uk that citizens do not respect him.
Ian Bennett has visited the hermit state more than 30 times as part of his role to help businessmen in the nation during workshops he compared to The Apprentice.
He claimed that North Koreans had to undergo “mental gymnastics” to understand their state’s position on President Trump changed – as perception of him shifted from oppressor to friend.
Mr Bennett told Express.co.uk: “A few years ago you would see all of the propaganda, where a foreigner was being crushed under the Korean boot.
“They have gone from mocking him as the American devil incarnate and all that stuff… to now where ‘he’s meeting our leader and is our leader’s friend’.
“They have done a 180… how do you turn that around? I think they have had a bit of that to deal with and I think they are a bit perplexed by Trump – as we all are.”
He claimed to have heard North Koreans describe the leader as “dotard” – someone who is old with physical and mental impairments – and joked about in other ways too.
In an episode of their podcast The Impossible State last month, they said that the incumbent leader did not tie them down to nuclear disarmament agreement – a popular move for North Korea’s regime.
They claimed that Mr Biden might be more cautious and only agree to meet with Kim if guaranteed proposals to reduce their arsenal was put up for negotiation.
CSIS also predicted that the hermit state could carry out missile tests in the run-up to the US election on November 3 and after the victor has been declared.
Expert Victor Cha pointed out that during “midterm and presidential elections” of the past, North Korea “always tends to ramp-up testing”.
He claimed that previously the nation had used military drills as a way to force discussion over aid or the possibility of lifting of sanctions.
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The analysis of North Korea’s favoured US leader reflected comments by Mr Bennett – who claimed to be no expert on politics – but felt they preferred President Trump.
He told Express.co.uk: “With Trump I don’t think they know what to make of him and are probably not alone with that… with Biden it’s hard to say.
“In the country when [Barack] Obama was elected, North Koreans said to me ‘We had hope but what do we see? Just the same.’
“The South Koreans and Americans do an annual military exercise and the only place they can think to hold it is right on the border.
“North Koreans are like can you not do it and US and South Koreans say they have always done this, so nothing really changed with Obama.”