Hello! Biden's extremely literal answer when asked if he has a message for Kim Jong-un

President Joe Biden had a simple message for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

‘Hello,’ Biden answered when asked what he would say Kim. ‘Period.’ 

The president also offered, ‘we are prepared for anything North Korea does.’ 

‘I’m not concerned if that’s what your asking,’ Biden added. 

Biden answered reporters’ questions about Kim at the conclusion of an appearance Sunday morning in Seoul with Hyundai’s Chairman Chung Eui-sun. 

President Joe Biden had a simple message for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. 'Hello,' Biden answered when asked what he would say Kim. 'Period.'

President Joe Biden had a simple message for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. ‘Hello,’ Biden answered when asked what he would say Kim. ‘Period.’

During his Saturday press conference with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, Biden was asked if he was willing to meet with Kim. 

He was also asked whether the U.S. would assist North Korea now that it has experienced skyrocketing coronavirus cases.

‘Yes we’ve offered vaccines, not only to North Korea but to China as well and we’re prepared to do that immediately. We’ve gotten no response,’ Biden said.

On meeting with Kim – who got summit meetings from predecessor Donald Trump during his tenure – Biden included caveats.

‘With regard to whether I would meet with the leader of North Korea, it would depend on whether he was sincere and whether it was serious.’

The president’s comments came after U.S. officials warned that Kim could try to make a statement during Biden’s visit by firing off another ICBM or conducting a nuclear test. 

'It would depend on whether he was sincere and whether it was serious,' President Joe Biden said at a press conference when asked whether he would meet North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un

‘It would depend on whether he was sincere and whether it was serious,’ President Joe Biden said at a press conference when asked whether he would meet North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un

President Joe Biden (left) stands alongside South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (right) at a press conference in Seoul on Saturday

President Joe Biden (left) stands alongside South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (right) at a press conference in Seoul on Saturday 

Biden met with Yoon Saturday in Seoul as the two men pledged to work together to maintain the rules-based international order.

‘Putin’s war against Ukraine isn’t just a matter for Europe. It’s an attack on democracy and the core international principle of sovereignty and international integrity,’ Biden said at the start of a press conference Saturday.

The two men met for about two hours, and committed to ‘further strengthen deterrence and ensure close cooperation to address the threat posed by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)’ – as North Korea’s threat of further nuclear or ballistic missiles tests hung over Biden’s trip.

According to a joint statement, ‘both leaders agree to initiate discussions to expand the scope and scale of combined military exercises and training on and around the Korean Peninsula.’ 

Those exercises have send a strong signal of U.S.-Korean cooperation in the past amid North Korea’s repeated saber rattling.

The statement also said the U.S. was willing to use nuclear weapons if necessary to ensure South Korea’s defense.

‘President Biden affirms the U.S. extended deterrence commitment to the ROK using the full range of U.S. defense capabilities, including nuclear, conventional, and missile defense capabilities,’ it said.

Biden also said the two agreed on ‘promoting stability across the Taiwan Strait’ – a reference to the threat of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

After repeating lines from domestic speeches about American economic strength, Biden said the U.S. economy was poised to grow at a rate faster than China’s for the first time since 1976. 

Yoon also pointed to his country’s economic strength and added responsibilities – saying it was the world’s 10th largest while also being a ‘cultural powerhouse.’  

Yoon said he was prepared to present an ‘audacious plan’ that will ‘vastly strengthen its economy and improve the quality of life’ for the people of North Korea.

Yoon, who took a hard line during his election campaign, said the ‘door to dialogue remains open’ if North Korea ‘genuinely embarks upon denuclearization.’

But he also called a strong defense against potential threats from the DPRK ‘paramount.’

Also hanging over Biden’s trip is the war in Ukraine, and the two countries want to make it an area of emphasis. 

‘Both Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen the U.S.-ROK alliance and to broaden its focus beyond the Korean Peninsula to take on global challenges, including threats to the rules-based international order, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The two Leaders committed to increase cooperation on a broad range of priority issues including critical technologies, economic and energy security, global health, and climate change,’ according to a White House readout of their meeting. 

The two men met for a packed day of diplomacy with the country’s new leader, who has only been in office for 11 days.

Biden began his day with a solemn gesture to honor Korea’s war dead, including in the Korean War. Biden donned white gloves and took part in a wreath-laying ceremony at Seoul National Cemetery.

Then, he sprinkled three pinches of incense ash into an urn, followed by a moment of silence.  

After that, it was onto some of the traditional diplomacy that Biden savors, with a formal meeting with Korea’s new president Yoon at the People’s House. 

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol (left) greets President Joe Biden (R) prior to their meeting in Seoul, South Korea on Saturday. Biden and Yoon were set to discuss security issues, North Korea, supply chain matters and other issues

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol (left) greets President Joe Biden (R) prior to their meeting in Seoul, South Korea on Saturday. Biden and Yoon were set to discuss security issues, North Korea, supply chain matters and other issues

President Joe Biden places incense in the memorial flame during a wreath-laying ceremony at the Seoul National Cemetery to honor the sacrifice of Koreans who died to protect their country. It was his first public event Saturday at the start of his trip to Korea

President Joe Biden places incense in the memorial flame during a wreath-laying ceremony at the Seoul National Cemetery to honor the sacrifice of Koreans who died to protect their country. It was his first public event Saturday at the start of his trip to Korea

President Joe Biden (left) took part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Seoul National Cemetery. The site honors soldiers including those who died in the Korean War

President Joe Biden (left) took part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Seoul National Cemetery. The site honors soldiers including those who died in the Korean War

Biden took part in a wreath-laying ceremony

Biden took part in a wreath-laying ceremony

MENU FOR SOUTH KOREA’S STATE DINNER FOR BIDEN 

Special cold dishes: black sesame tofu, vegetable rolls, stuffed cucumber, seasoned deodeok and ginseng vegetable rolls

Pine mushroom porridge and water kimchi

Dumplings wrapped in cabbage

Sous-vide beef ribs and sauteed vegetables

Bibimbap and tofu ball soup 

Rice cake with nuts, fresh fruits and orange jelly

Cold green plum tea  

 Side dishes: white cabbage kimchi, braised lotus roots and mung bean pancakes 

Yoon moved his official offices from the Blue House to a defense ministry compound. 

‘Today with this visit we’re taking the cooperation between our countries to new heights,’ Biden said, gushing about a partnership he said was built on ‘shared sacrifice.’ 

He mentioned the North Korea threat and said cooperation was ‘essential’ on the global stage.

Biden and Yoon each wore masks during their outdoor greeting. South Korea has been dealing with its own coronavirus issues, and maintains an indoor mask mandate.

Saturday night, the men met in a more festive setting – a state dinner at the National Museum of Korea. 

Biden was welcomed to the dinner – which he’s attending stag as the first lady is in Latin America – by a colorfully dressed honor guard. 

‘It is a pleasure to welcome you here tonight,’ Yoon said. ‘The ROK-U.S. alliance was forced in blood on the battlefield of the Korean War. Since then, the alliance has been a strong foundation, which buttresses Korea’s economy, growth and prosperity based on free democracy and market economy.’ 

Yoon pledged to ‘draw and design a new future vision of our alliance with you, Mr. President.’

The Korean leader then quoted Yeats ‘one of your favorite poets,’ he told Biden, who had a laugh.  

Biden then held up a glass and gave his toast, opening it with the closeness he felt to the new leader. 

‘We shared a lot of stories from our early beginnings and I think maybe we told each other too much, I don’t know,’ Biden said to laughs.  

President Joe Biden gives a toast Saturday night at a state dinner with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul

President Joe Biden gives a toast Saturday night at a state dinner with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul 

President Joe Biden (right) and Yoon Suk Yeol (left) arrive at Saturday night's state dinner at the National Museum of Korea in Seoul

President Joe Biden (right) and Yoon Suk Yeol (left) arrive at Saturday night’s state dinner at the National Museum of Korea in Seoul 

President Joe Biden stands to give a toast at the state dinner in South Korea Saturday

President Joe Biden stands to give a toast at the state dinner in South Korea Saturday 

President Joe Biden (right) will spend Saturday with South Korea's new leader, President Yoon Suk-yeol (left), who he toured a Samsung plant with Friday

President Joe Biden (right) will spend Saturday with South Korea’s new leader, President Yoon Suk-yeol (left), who he toured a Samsung plant with Friday 

New South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol (right) spoke after the tour of the Samsung Electronics Pyeongtaek Campus in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, introducing President Joe Biden (left)

New South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol (right) spoke after the tour of the Samsung Electronics Pyeongtaek Campus in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, introducing President Joe Biden (left) 

President Joe Biden (right) arrives at the Samsung Electronics Pyeongtaek Campus on Friday and greets South Korea's new President Yoon Suk-yeol (left)

President Joe Biden (right) arrives at the Samsung Electronics Pyeongtaek Campus on Friday and greets South Korea’s new President Yoon Suk-yeol (left) 

President Joe Biden (center) receives a tour Friday of the Samsung Electronics Pyeongtaek Campus in South Korea alongside (from left) Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong

President Joe Biden (center) receives a tour Friday of the Samsung Electronics Pyeongtaek Campus in South Korea alongside (from left) Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong

President Joe Biden greets a worker at the Samsung Electronics Pyeongtaek Campus in Pyeongtaek, South Korea on Friday, his first stop in Asia

President Joe Biden greets a worker at the Samsung Electronics Pyeongtaek Campus in Pyeongtaek, South Korea on Friday, his first stop in Asia 

Air Force One with President Joe Biden arrives at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, Friday to kick-off the president's first tour of Asia since taking office in 2021

Air Force One with President Joe Biden arrives at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, Friday to kick-off the president’s first tour of Asia since taking office in 2021 

During their first meeting Friday evening, at Samsung’s Pyeongtaek Campus, Biden addressed a crowd and accidentally called Yoon ‘Moon,’ before correcting himself. 

‘And President Moon – Yoon – you thank you everything you’ve done,’ Biden said. 

Yoon won election, in part, because he said he’d take a tougher stance against North Korea.  

Moon had tried to promote a peaceful reconciliation between the two Koreas. 

Yoon pledged that he would not ease sanctions on his northern neighbor until leader Kim Jong Un made ‘active efforts in complete and verifiable denuclearization.’ 

At the same time, Yoon revealed an ‘audacious’ plan during his May 10 inaugural address to revive North Korea’s economy if Kim committed to denuclearization. 

The U.S. and South Korea could use COVID assistance as an additional carrot, as North Korea has reported a whopping 1.72 million patients who have ‘fever’ symptoms – with 62 deaths – as of Tuesday. 

South Korea has offered to send medical supplies including vaccines, tests and masks. 

In the run-up to Biden’s trip – his first to Asia as president – National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan was open about the fact North Korea could launch a missile or nuclear test while the president was in the region. 

‘Our intelligence does reflect the genuine possibility that there will be either a further missile test, including long-range missile test, or a nuclear test, or frankly both in the days leading into, on or after the president’s trip to the region,’ said Wednesday from the podium. 

‘We are preparing for all contingencies, including the possibility that such a provocation would occur while we are in Korea or in Japan,’ he added. 

North Korea has already conducted 15 ballistic missile tests this year, as well as seven nuclear tests. 

South Korea’s spy agency said North Korea has been making preparations for another test.

South Korea's Foreign Minister Park Jin greets U.S. President Joe Biden as he arrives at Osan Air Base (ROK) in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, May 20, 2022

South Korea’s Foreign Minister Park Jin greets U.S. President Joe Biden as he arrives at Osan Air Base (ROK) in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, May 20, 2022

Pedestrians walk past banners calling for strength of the South Korea-US alliance near the US embassy in Seoul on May 20, 2022, ahead of US President Joe Biden's visit to South Korea

Pedestrians walk past banners calling for strength of the South Korea-US alliance near the US embassy in Seoul on May 20, 2022, ahead of US President Joe Biden’s visit to South Korea

Biden toured the Samsung Electronics Co. semiconductor manufacturing plant in Pyeongtaek

Biden toured the Samsung Electronics Co. semiconductor manufacturing plant in Pyeongtaek

He's leaving the United States just days before the pandemic-era Title 42 policy is lifted

He’s leaving the United States just days before the pandemic-era Title 42 policy is lifted

Biden did not stop to answer reporters' shouted questions but waved before boarding his plane

Biden did not stop to answer reporters’ shouted questions but waved before boarding his plane

On Thursday on board Air Force One, Sullivan said the U.S., South Korea and Japan – the country Biden is headed to next –  had already prepared a joint response. 

‘We are prepared for those eventualities, we are coordinated closely with both the ROK and Japan. We know what we will do to respond to them,’ Sullivan said. 

He added that a North Korean missile or nuclear test ‘could cause the United States only to increase our fortitude in terms of defending our allies and cause adjustments to the way that our military is postured in the region.’ 

‘As far as the trip is concerned, I think all it would do is underscore, it would underscore one of the main messages that we are sending on this trip, which is that the United States is here for our allies and partners,’ Sullivan said. 

‘We are here to help provide deterrence and defense for the ROK and Japan. We will respond to any threats and any aggression decisively,’ he added.

Whatever North Korea dictator Kim’s plans, Biden plans to also focus on the alliance between the two large economies. 

Biden’s first stop in South Korea Friday evening was to a Samsung micro-chip facility, which he toured alongside Yoon. 

‘This is an auspicious start to my visit, because it’s emblematic of the future cooperation and innovation our nations can and must build together,’ Biden said, delivering remarks alongside Yoon after touring two parts of the enormous Pyeongtaek facility. 

Biden and Yoon, along with Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, toured a floor of the facility and received a technical briefing on how semiconductor wafers are made. 

Biden mistakenly messed up the name of where Samsung is building a U.S. plant – calling it Tyler, not Taylor, Texas. 

On Sunday, Biden will meet with the chairman of Hyundai Motor Group and deliver remarks on the company’s decision to invest in a new electric vehicle and battery manufacturing plant in Savannah, Georgia.  

It is certain that Russia’s war on Ukraine will come up, as Biden tries to keep allies unified in aiding Ukraine and trying to confront Russia through punitive sanctions. 

Biden will sign the just-passed $40 billion Ukrain aid package while on the trip. 

The Senate passed the bill while Biden was traveling to Asia on board Air Force One.

Meanwhile, Biden is looking to reaffirm his administration’s commitment to allies and partners in the region who fear China’s increased aggression against Taiwan and in the South China Sea. 

Biden is skipping a trip to the DMZ on this trip – the Korean Demilitarized Zone, which separates North and South Korea.

He last visited the DMZ as president in 2013.  

President Joe Biden (left), serving as vice president, visited the DMZ in 2013. He looked into North Korea with binoculars alongside granddaughter Finnegan Biden (right)

President Joe Biden (left), serving as vice president, visited the DMZ in 2013. He looked into North Korea with binoculars alongside granddaughter Finnegan Biden (right) 

Former President Donald Trump (right) visited the DMZ in June of 2019 and was the first American leader to meet with a North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un (left), in the space between North and South Korea

Former President Donald Trump (right) visited the DMZ in June of 2019 and was the first American leader to meet with a North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un (left), in the space between North and South Korea

More recently, former President Donald Trump went to the DMZ in June of 2019 and crossed into North Korea, making history by meeting Kim, a year after they first held talks in Singapore and several months after talks fizzled out in Vietnam. 

On Thursday Sullivan told reporters it wasn’t too dangerous for Biden to go to the DMZ, but rather the president had been there, done that. 

‘The president’s been to the DMZ before, it’s not too dangerous, no. In fact senior U.S. government officials go there on a regular basis,’ Sullivan told DailyMail.com. ‘He felt on this trip, rather than repeat that, he wanted an opportunity to actually see where the rubber hits the road in terms of U.S.-ROK forces sitting side-by-side are managing the theater. We will do that at the airbase.’ 

He’ll do this by making an appearance Sunday at the Air Operations Center’s Combat Operations Floor on Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, where Air Force One landed Friday evening. 

After Saturday and Sunday’s meetings in South Korea, Biden will then travel to Japan to meet with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who’s been in that position since October. 

The two leaders previously met on the sidelines of the G7 in March. 

‘We believe that the U.S.-Japan alliance at this moment under these two leaders is at an all-time high. This visit can take us even higher,’ Sullivan said.  

Biden’s overtures to South Korea and Japan, two Asian democracies, are to provide a counter-balance to rising China, which has gotten cozier with North Korea since nuclear talks ended with the last U.S. administration in 2019. 

After taking office last year, Biden’s first world leader at the White House was Kishida’s predecessor, Yoshihide Suga, with South Korea’s former President Moon visiting a month later. 

While in Tokyo, Biden will also participate in his second in-person meeting of the Quad, which includes the United States, Japan, India and Australia, another strategic alliance meant to keep China in check. 

This will be the first time Kishida will participate, alongside Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

Australia’s May 21 general election is complicating participation in the Quad meeting, as it will be held just three days before the Tokyo gathering is scheduled.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison wouldn’t say on Wednesday who would represent Australia at the summit. 

‘I believe that the Quad meeting will go ahead, I don’t have any more specifics than that,’ Jean-Pierre said at Wednesday’s briefing when asked about Australia’s participation.  

Morrison is being challenged by Labor Party leader Anthony Albanese. 

Also in Tokyo, the White House said Biden will release an ‘ambitious economic initiative for the region.’ 

First Lady Jill Biden beat her husband to Asia, traveling to Tokyo in July to appear at the summer Olympics.  

source: dailymail.co.uk