Trump Lawyer Rudy Giuliani Says Kim Jong-un “Got On His Hands And Knees” To Ask For The Summit

Former Mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani who is the latest addition to U.S. President Donald Trump’s legal team as the Robert Mueller investigation goes on, has also turned into somewhat of a spokesperson for the President.

His latest revelation just days before the historic Trump-Kim Summit on June 12: After the U.S. President cancelled the summit for the first time, North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un begged for the summit to be reinstated. “Kim Jong-un got back on his hands and knees and begged for it, which is exactly the position you want to put him in,” Giuliani told a business conference in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv.

Rudy Giuliani has been touring various organizations in Israel during which he gave this controversial statement.

North Korea has been historically very sensitive to rhetoric directed at it and its vitriolic response to Vice President Mike Pence’s statements had led to Trump cancelling the summit the first time around. Trump had called off the summit in May, accusing North Korea of "tremendous anger and open hostility". But plans for the June 12 bilateral meeting in Singapore were revived after a conciliatory response from Pyongyang.

Upon being asked by CNN if he is concerned over whether his comment will jeopardize the summit, Giuliani said, "if that's the reason he doesn't do it, it wasn't going to be much of a summit, right? " Giuliani also downplayed the comment to CNN, saying, "I didn't say anything personally bad about him."

During a news conference on Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who is the point man for the North Korea talks dismissed Rudy Giuliani's remarks. "Rudy doesn't speak for the administration when it comes to this negotiation and this set of issues," he said. "I took him as being in a small room and not being serious about the comments. I think it was a bit in jest. We are focused on the important things." Mike Pompeo has made two visits to North Korea in the last two months to set up the upcoming Singapore summit.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 08, 2018 06:56 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).