US President Donald Trump posted a satirical image of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on his Truth Social account, showing him talking on the phone.
The release of the photo comes as relations between Washington and Pyongyang are returning to the forefront, coinciding with Trump's announcement of a reduction in the scope of planned US-South Korean military exercises, a move he linked to his assertion of a good relationship with Kim Jong Un.
A few days ago, Trump posted another picture of himself with Kim, commenting that despite the "unfriendly" appearance in the picture, there are many pictures of them smiling, and stressing that his relationship with Kim is "very good".
Trump had announced that he had instructed US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to reduce the size of planned military exercises with South Korea, noting that continuing the exercises in this manner could send the "wrong message" to Pyongyang, given his description of North Korea as having been "non-threatening and respectful" during his first term in office.
These developments coincide with continued tension on the Korean Peninsula, as Pyongyang repeatedly criticizes US-South Korean military exercises, considering them a provocation and a threat to its security, while North Korea conducted several ballistic missile tests this August.
