Trump defends Biden from scathing North Korean critique

WASHINGTON

U.S. President Donald Trump defended his Democratic rival Joe Biden on Sunday, who was slammed by North Korea in an apparent response to his criticism of its leader Kim Jong Un.

In commentary Friday, North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) called Biden, a former U.S. vice president, a “rabid dog” who should be “beaten to death with a stick.”

“Joe Biden may be Sleepy and Very Slow, but he is not a ‘rabid dog’,” Trump said on Twitter.

“He is actually somewhat better than that, but I am the only one who can get you where you have to be. You should act quickly, get the deal done. See you soon!,” he added.

Biden’s campaign allegedly insulted Kim as part of a pushback from 2020 U.S. presidential candidates against Trump’s policy toward Pyongyang, including his meetings with the North Korean leader.

Biden responded Friday to the attack by KCNA.

“It seems that murderous dictator Kim Jong Un doesn’t like me…When I am commander in chief, our adversaries will know that America doesn’t embrace dictators. All Trump has accomplished is emboldening Kim and endangering our allies,” he said in a statement released by his campaign.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar