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Trump to Kim Jong Un: We Can Help With Coronavirus

William Gallo

   SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - President Donald Trump has sent a personal letter
   to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, offering U.S. help amid the
   coronavirus pandemic, the first known contact between the two leaders
   in months.

   The letter shows the continued "special and firm" relationship between
   Kim and Trump, according to the North's state-run Korean Central News
   Agency, which revealed the existence of the letter in a statement
   Sunday.

   In the letter, Trump offered Kim "anti-epidemic" help and said he "was
   impressed by the efforts made by the Chairman to defend his people"
   from the epidemic, the North Korean statement said.

   North Korea insists it does not have any coronavirus infections, though
   many suspect it is hiding an outbreak. The coronavirus could be
   especially deadly in North Korea, which lacks adequate medical supplies
   and infrastructure.

   'Consistent' with past efforts

   A senior White House official acknowledged Trump's letter, which he
   said was "consistent with his efforts to engage global leaders during
   the ongoing pandemic."

   "The president looks forward to continued communications with Chairman
   Kim," the U.S. official said.

   U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently said Washington had
   offered Pyongyang coronavirus assistance, despite "deep differences"
   between the two countries.

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