Washington, DC [US], August 18 (ANI): US President Donald Trump said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has always treated him with 'great respect', highlighting their personal rapport and saying his approach is aimed at making the situation on the Korean Peninsula safer.

Speaking to reporters, Trump said he had met Kim on multiple occasions and that the two leaders understood each other. Trump contrasted his relationship with Kim with the North Korean leader's reported views of previous US presidents.

'Kim Jong Un has always treated me with great respect, and we met on two primary occasions, spoke, and spent time. I understand him. He understands me. I get along with him. You know, he didn't like Biden, he didn't like Obama, he didn't like anybody, but I get along with him very well. Now, what I'm doing is making things safer, just the opposite,' Trump said.

This comes after Trump instructed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to 'substantially reduce' joint military exercises with South Korea, citing his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and describing the drills as costly and inappropriate.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he was 'not happy' that the United States had previously agreed to participate in joint military exercises with South Korea.

'Based on my very good relationship with Kim Jong Un, of North Korea, I am not happy with the fact that the United States has, long ago, agreed to participate in Joint Military Exercises with South Korea,' Trump said.

Trump described the exercises as costly and said they send a signal that is 'totally inappropriate and hostile' to North Korea, which he claimed has been 'unthreatening and respectful' during his presidency.

He said it was too late to cancel the exercises altogether but instructed Hegseth to substantially reduce them.

'Therefore, and based on the fact that it is too late to cancel, I have instructed Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to substantially reduce the Joint Military Exercises!' Trump said. (ANI)