Trump's New Endorsement Confirms Your Worst Fears

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump can add a new supporter to the list that's right up there with former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke — a North Korean state media editorial has endorsed Trump for U.S. president. DPRK Today published an editorial by an author identified as Han Yong Mook, who is described as a Chinese North Korea scholar. While the article was not an endorsement from Kim Jong Un or from Pyongyang, it is significant that it was published in the state-approved news outlet.

The editorial encouraged urged Americans to cast their votes for the Donald over "dull Hillary" because Trump has said he would be open to direct talks with North Korea. Specifically, the article stated:

The president that U.S. citizens must vote for is not that dull Hillary — who claimed to adapt the Iranian model to resolve nuclear issues on the Korean Peninsula – but Trump, who spoke of holding direct conversation with North Korea.

The University of Leeds' Aaron Foster-Carter told North Korea News that, "Admittedly [the editorial] is not exactly Pyongyang speaking, or at least not the DPRK government in an official capacity. But it is certainly Pyongyang flying a kite, or testing the waters."

The editorial also commended Trump, describing the man who once mixed up 9/11 and 7-11 as a "wise politician" and "far-sighted presidential candidate." Earlier this month, Trump made waves when he told Reuters that, as president, who would potentially hold direct talks with the leader of the Hermit Kingdom, Kim Jong Un. "I would speak to him, I would have no problem speaking to him," Trump told the news agency.

However, North Korea appears to have rebuffed a prospective Trump meet-up. A few weeks after Trump's comments, So Se Pyong, the North Korean ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, told Reuters, "It is up to the decision of my Supreme Leader whether he decides to meet or not, but I think his [Trump's] idea or talk is nonsense." He added that Trump's offer to meet with North Korea had "no meaning, no sincerity." Many would argue the same could be said about several aspects of Trump's campaign.