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Donald Trump says that Kim Jong-un is either 'mad' or a 'genius'

'I guess he's mad, either he's mad or he's a genius, one or the other'

Monday 24 August 2015 11:18 BST

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaking at a rally in Alabama (Mark Wallheiser/Getty Images)

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has said that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is either "mad" or a "genius" on a US radio show.

Mr Trump was speaking about the US Government's commitment to aid South Korea if the neighbouring Korean countries enter another full-blown war as talks continue.

"You know it’s heating up again," Mr Trump told presenter Mick Murphy. "So, we send our ships".

"I think South Korea’s great. I think it's wonderful. I just order 4,000 television sets for a job that I’m doing, right? And guess what? Between Samsung, and LG, and Sharp, they all come from South Korea."

The presidential candidate questioned why America is not receiving compensation for protecting South Korea from attack.

"They're making a fortune. So, we send our troops, we're getting ready to go in there and defend them. And we get nothing! It's like crazy. We get nothing. Why are we getting nothing? Why aren't they helping us, okay? We help them," he said.

Everyday life in North Korea - in pictures

Show all 10

1/10Everyday life in North Korea - in pictures

Everyday life in North Korea - in pictures

'Ordinary life' in North Korea

A man cuts the hair of a young boy at an apartment building in Pyongyang. High rise apartments are a common form of accommodation for people living in the capital city

AP Photo/Dita Alangkara

Everyday life in North Korea - in pictures

'Ordinary life' in North Korea

North Koreans pause to give way for passing vehicles as they cross a road in Pyongyang.

AP Photo/Dita Alangkara

Everyday life in North Korea - in pictures

'Ordinary life' in North Korea

North Koreans wait for public transportation at a bus stop in Pyongyang

AP Photo/Dita Alangkara

Everyday life in North Korea - in pictures

'Ordinary life' in North Korea

A woman and her daughter walk past a North Korean flag hung on a utility pole as part of celebrations of the Liberation Day in Pyongyang

AP Photo/Dita Alangkara

Everyday life in North Korea - in pictures

'Ordinary life' in North Korea

People attending the conference for national reunification as they observe their 70th anniversary of Korea's liberation, marking the end of World War II, in Panmunjom

AFP PHOTO / KCNA via KNS REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT

Everyday life in North Korea - in pictures

'Ordinary life' in North Korea

A man looks at items at a stamp shop in Pyongyang

AP Photo/Dita Alangkara

Everyday life in North Korea - in pictures

'Ordinary life' in North Korea

North Koreans participate in a closing event for its celebration of the 70th anniversary of Korea's independence from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule, at the truce village inside the demilitarized zone (DMZ) that divides the two Koreas in Panmunjom, North Korea. The country changed it's timezone on the occasion. North Korea introduced 'Pyongyang time' and pushed back its clocks by half an hour on 15 August, the same as before the Japanese occupation when the standard time used by the Korean empire was eight and a half hours ahead of GMT, instead of nine hours, which is Tokyo time

EPA/KCNA SOUTH KOREA OUT

Everyday life in North Korea - in pictures

'Ordinary life' in North Korea

People attending the conference for national reunification as they observe their 70th anniversary of Korea's liberation, marking the end of World War II, in Panmunjom

AFP PHOTO / KCNA via KNS

Everyday life in North Korea - in pictures

'Ordinary life' in North Korea

Youths and students attending an evening gala at the Kim Il-Sung Square in Pyongyang to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Korea's liberation, marking the end of World War II

AFP PHOTO / KCNA via KNS REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT

Everyday life in North Korea - in pictures

'Ordinary life' in North Korea

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun to mark the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Korea's liberation

REUTERS/KCNAATTENTION EDITORS

"And you know, we have this mad guy, I guess he's mad, either he's mad or he's a genius, one or the other, but he's actually more unstable, even than his father, they say. They said the father was a pleasure by comparison to him, in North Korea."

North Korea's worst human rights abuses

Show all 11

1/11North Korea's worst human rights abuses

North Korea's worst human rights abuses

Starvation

A UN report said that policies leading to mass starvation in North Korea amounted to crimes against humanity. Deaths peaked during the 1990s North Korean famine.

Al Jazeera

North Korea's worst human rights abuses

Executions

Defence minister Hyon Yong Chol is believed to be the latest official executed after falling foul of Kim Jong-un. As well as gruesome public executions, thousands of people have been killed in state 'purges' and for alleged anti-state crimes

Getty

North Korea's worst human rights abuses

Torture

Torture is prevalent in prison camps, as well as in police and security service custody.

AP

North Korea's worst human rights abuses

Freedom of religion

American missionary Kenneth Bae was one of the many people detained after trying to practice their religion. The DPRK Constitution claims to protect freedom of religion but not if it as alleged of being used a a pretext for 'drawing in foreign forces or for harming the state and social order'. Christianity is frequently considered a political crime

North Korea's worst human rights abuses

Freedom of expression

All media is tightly-state controlled and expressing facts of opinions critical of the government or Juche ideology can lead to arrest and imprisonment. As well as being under extensive surveillance, people are encouraged to 'inform' on friends and neighbours

Getty

North Korea's worst human rights abuses

Freedom of thought

A UN report found that the 'DPRK operates an all-encompassing indoctrination machine which takes root from childhood to propagate an official personality cult and to manufacture absolute obedience to the Supreme Leader, effectively to the exclusion of any independent thought from the official ideology and state propaganda'

Reuters

North Korea's worst human rights abuses

Forced labour

Prisoners are subjected to forced labour in camps, including children as young as five. Some workers are also reportedly being sent abroad to fund the government's projects

AFP

North Korea's worst human rights abuses

Sexual discrimination

Although women are permitted to serve in the military, their role is restrained by the Juche ideology and the UN reports that 'discrimination against women remains pervasive in all aspects of society'

AP

North Korea's worst human rights abuses

Freedom of movement

Freedom of movement is severely restricted within North Korea and very few citizens are allowed to leave the country. Immigrants found in China can be forcible repatriated and punished on their return. The right for foreigners to enter is also severely restricted.

Reuters

North Korea's worst human rights abuses

Prison camps

Many of the worst abuses reported take place at prison camps, some specifically for political crimes. The camps officially do not exist but have been photographed using satellite. Inmates are 'forcibly disappeared' and usually imprisoned until death

REUTERS

North Korea's worst human rights abuses

Reproductive rights

Forced abortions have been reported for imprisoned women, often after being raped by guards. Mothers and babies frequently die in childbirth because of a lack of adequate care, often delivering babies unaided at home.

AP

"How many people can we defend?" Mr Trump asked. "Why are we defending everybody? And these are rich nations. South Korea makes billions and billions. We get nothing. We are like the stupid people that go and defend everybody."

Mr Trump implied that if he is elected president he will negotiate payment from South Korea: "We should defend them, but you know what? With the right messenger, they’ll pay us a fortune, and everybody will be happy. But it’s very sad to see what happens, frankly."

Donald Trump remains ahead in the polls for the Republican primary.

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