North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong Un sent President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump a “message of sympathy” on Friday night after learning had been diagnosed with COVID-19.
Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korea’s state media outlet, reported the news as Trump was making his way from the White House to Walter Reed Medical Center while suffering from symptoms including a fever, cough and fatigue less than 24 hours after testing positive for the virus.
“In the message he [Kim] said he heard the sudden news that the president and the first lady of the U.S. have been tested positive for corona virus,” the KCNA report states. “He offered his sympathy to the president and the first lady. He sincerely hoped that they would be recovered as soon as possible. He hoped they will surely overcome it. He sent warm greetings to them.”
Trump has touted his warm relationship with Kim on multiple occasions, having held personal meetings with with the dictator three times. Last month, the president responded to speculation that Kim was suffering ill health with his own message of support.
“Kim Jong Un is in good health,” Trump tweeted on September 10. “Never underestimate him!”
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
