Donald Trump says ‘everyone thinks’ he should get Nobel peace prize

The US leader is expected to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un

Mythili Sampathkumar

New York

Wednesday 09 May 2018 20:27 BST

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Donald Trump: 'everyone thinks' the US president deserves Nobel Prize

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Louise Thomas

Louise Thomas

Editor

US President Donald Trump said that “everyone thinks” he deserves a Nobel peace prize for his work to improve relations with North Korea.

Mr Trump was asked if he thinks he deserves the prestigious award - give to his predecessor President Barack Obama in 2009 - and he said: “Everyone thinks so, but I would never say it”. Mr Trump is expected to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to discuss having the hermit kingdom stop developing its nuclear weapons programme and the release of three American prisoners earlier today after years in captivity.

“I want to get it finished. The prize I want is victory for the world, not even here. I want victory for the world because that’s what we’re talking about. So that’s the only prize I want," Mr Trump said.

His comments come on the heels of a historic meeting between Mr Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in in the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) to sign the Panmunjom Declaration for Peace, Prosperity and Unification of the Korean Peninsula during the Inter-Korean Summit and officially ended the war that began when the north and south split in a battle over communism and democracy that began on 25 June 1950.

Though Mr Moon had run for president on a platform of adopting the “sunshine policy” of increasing and improving economic ties with the North, he suggested that Mr Trump receive the prize and said the bombastic US leader deserves credit for the peace agreement.

Mr Trump said it was “very nice” of Mr Moon to suggest it but noted: “I want to get peace. The main thing, we want to get peace”.

Trump on North Korea meeting: 'we have a date and location'

After the summit on Friday morning, the US president immediately tweeted: “KOREAN WAR TO END! The United States, and all of its GREAT people, should be very proud of what is now taking place in Korea!” implying that he played an important part in it.

“When I began, people were saying that was an impossibility,” Mr Trump said meeting with US Winter Olympics athletes who participated in this year’s games in South Korea. “They said there were two alternatives: Let them have what they have, or go to war. And now we have a much better alternative than anybody thought even possible”.

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

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1/21North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

Pukguksong-2 missile - 2 May 2017

A solid-fuel "Pukguksong-2" missile lifts off during its launch test in North Korea on May 22, 2017. They said that it was examining operational plans for attacking Guam, an angry reaction to UN punishment for previous North Korean intercontinental ballistic missile tests and a US suggestion about preparations for possible preventive attacks to stop the North's nuclear weapons program.

Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

Hwasong-12 -16 September 2017

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un inspecting a launching drill of the medium-and-long range strategic ballistic rocket Hwasong-12 at an undisclosed location. Kim vowed to complete North Korea's nuclear force despite sanctions, saying the final goal of his country's weapons development is "equilibrium of real force" with the United States, state media reported on September 16, 2017.

AFP/Getty Images

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

Donald Trump address South Korean assembly - 7 November 2017

President Donald Trump talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-In during their joint press conference at the presidential Blue House on November 7, 2017 in Seoul.Trump was the first US President to address the South Korean National Assembly since President Clinton in 1993. He addressed Kim Jong Un warning him to not underestimate the US and that for talks to materialize then Pyongyang would need to take steps into denuclearization.

Getty

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

Demilitarized Zone

Haean-Myeon, is a small military town near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and border between North and South Korea, in Gangwon province. The zone is a strip of land running across the Korean Peninsula and was created after the 'Korean Armistice Agreement'. Any negotiations between the two countries tend to take place in this zone.

AFP/Getty Images

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

Declared state sponsor of terrorism by Trump - 20 November 2017

President Donald Trump speaks to the media during a cabinet meeting at the White House on November 20, 2017, where he officially designated North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism. North Korea had previously been on the list, however was removed in 2008.

Getty

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile - 29 November 2017

The North Korean government launches it's Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile at an undisclosed location in North Korea on November 29, 2017. It is supposedly capable of reaching all parts of the US.

Korean Central News Agency via AP

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile - 29 November 2017

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un celebrating the launch of the Hwasong-15 missile on November 29, 2017.

AFP/Getty

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

Kim Jong-Un New Year's speech - 1 January 2018

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un delivering his New Year's speech. He vowed North Korea would mass-produce nuclear warheads and missiles in a defiant New Year message on January 1 suggesting he would continue to accelerate a rogue weapons programme that has stoked international tensions.

Korean Central News Agency via AFP/Getty

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

Intercontinental ballistic missile ice sculpture - 1 January 2018

Fireworks are seen above the Taedong River during New Year celebrations as visitors pose for a photo in front of an ice sculpture of an intercontinental ballistic missile at the Pyongyang Ice Sculpture Festival in Kim Il Sung Square in North Korea on 1 January, 2018.

REUTERS

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

US-South Korean military drills postponed - 4 January 2018

South Korean President Moon Jae-in talks with US President Donald Trump on January 4, 2018 in Seoul. South Korea and US agreed to delay the annual "Foal Eagle" military drills until after the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games in an effort to "de-conflict" the Games and "focus on ensuring the security" of the event.

South Korean Presidential Blue House via Getty

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

North and South Korea have first official talks in over two years - 9 January 2018

Vehicles transporting the South Korean delegation, led by South Korean Unification Ministrer Cho Myoung-Gyon, drive past a checkpoint on the road connecting South and North Korea at the Unification Bridge, near the Demilitarized zone (DMZ) separating them both on January 9, 2018 in Paju. They began their first official face-to-face talks in two years.

Getty

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

North and South Korea have first official talks in over two years - 9 January 2018

Members of the South Korea delegation (R) shake hands with members of the North Korean delegation (L) during their meeting at the border truce village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) dividing the two Koreas on January 9, 2018. They focused on the forthcoming Winter Olympics after months of tensions over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programme.

AFP/Getty

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

Foreign Ministers Meeting on Security and Stability on the Korean Peninsula - 16 January 2018

Foreign Ministers from twenty countries from North and South America, Asia, and Europe pose for a photo at the Vancouver Foreign Ministers Meeting on Security and Stability on the Korean Peninsula, in Vancouver on January 16, 2018. The US urged an escalation in pressure on North Korea over its nuclear missile program, despite a more cautious tone from key US ally South Korea. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, co-hosted the event with Canada's foreign minister Chrystia Freeland, and called for North Korean ships to be intercepted and for new punitive measures to be implemented every time Pyongyang tests new weapons.

AFP/Getty

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

North Korea and South Korea to march together at Winter Olympics - 20 January 2018

PyeongChang 2018 Olympics President Lee Hee-beom, North Korea's Sports Minister and Olympic Committee president Kim Il Guk, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, South Korean Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Do Jong-hwan and South Korea's National Olympic Committee President Lee Kee-heung join their hands as they pose during a signing ceremony at the Olympic Museum on January 20, 2018 in Lausanne. North Korea will send 22 athletes to the Winter Games in the South. The two nations will also march together at the opening ceremony.

AFP/Getty

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

Anti-North Korea activists protest delegation arrival - 22 January 2018

Anti-North Korea activists burn a portrait of leader Kim Jong-Un during a rally Seoul Station as a North Korean delegation arrived to check out performance venues for the Winter Olympics on January 22, 2018. Protesters led by the Korean Patriots Party gathered and complained that the talks to encourage North Korea's participation is stealing the spotlight from their country to the benefit of the regime.

Donga Daily via Getty

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

Panmunjom - 7 February 2018

South Korean soldiers stand guard at the border village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between South and North Korea on February 7, 2018. In a sign of thawing bilateral ties, North Korea today announced that Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, will attend the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games.

Getty Images

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

North Korean ferry arrives in South Korea - 6 February 2018

North Korean ferry Mangyongbong-92 carrying a 140-strong orchestra approaches a port in Donghae, South Korea, February 6, 2018.

REUTERS

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

Anti-North Korea protest - 6 February 2018

A member of a conservative civic group tears a portrait of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during an anti-North Korea protest as the North Korean ferry Mangyongbong-92 carrying a 140-strong orchestra approached.

REUTERS

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

North Korea at the athletes village - 8 February 2018

A North Korean flag is seen hanging on a building at the Winter Olympics athletes village in Gangneung, South Korea.

REUTERS

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

Olympic Welcome ceremony - 8 February 2018

Democratic People's Republic of Korea Vice Sports Minister Won Gil-woo receives a gift from mayor of the Olympic Village Kim Ki-hoon during the welcome ceremony ahead of the PyeongChang 2018 Games at the Olympic Village on 8 February, 2018 in South Korea.

Getty Images

North Korea – South Korea relations: in pictures

Mike Pence meets Moon Jae-in - 8 February 2018

US Vice President Mike Pence shakes hands with South Korean President Moon Jae-in before their meeting at the presidential office in Seoul, South Korea on 8 February, 2018.

REUTERS

For the first year of Mr Trump’s time in the White House he routinely traded diplomatic barbs with Mr Kim, calling him “rocket man” repeatedly and even during a United Nations speech. Mr Kim in return called Mr Trump a “dotard” and continued developing intercontinental ballistic missile capabilities.

The time, date, and place of Mr Trump’s meeting with Mr Kim have not been publicly announced as yet.

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