During the campaign Trump said that he would be willing to meet North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong-un , whom he described as a " maniac " who also deserves credit for being able to overcome his rivals in order to succeed his father . He indicated that he did not want to get involved in any conflict between North and South Korea , an attitude which resulted in an editorial in the North Korean state media that hailed him as a " wise politician " and a " far-sighted presidential candidate " who could be good for North Korea . In the wake of the January 2016 North Korean nuclear test Trump advocated placing greater pressure on China to rein in its ally North Korea . During the campaign and the early months of his presidency , he said he hoped that China would help to rein in North Korea 's nuclear ambitions and missile tests
January 2016 North Korean nuclear test
January 2016 North Korean nuclear test
Foreign policy of the Donald Trump administration