North Korea is evidently not too fond of Donald Trump's nuclear strategy for Japan and South Korea.
In an exclusive interview with CNN, a North Korean official called the Republican presidential front-runner's remarks "absurd and illogical."
"The U.S. tells us to give up our nuclear program, is preparing a nuclear attack against us, and on the other hand would tell allies to have nuclear weapons. Isn't this a double standard?" Ri Jong Ryul, deputy-director general of the Institute of International Studies in Pyongyang, said.
Trump has previously suggested Japan and South Korea develop nuclear weapons in response to growing uncertainty with North Korea.
He told The New York Times: "Would I rather have North Korea have [nuclear weapons] with Japan sitting there having them also? You may very well be better off if that’s the case."
He expanded on that idea during a town hall-style debate in late March and defended the comments later in a Fox News interview.
"North Korea has nukes. Japan has a problem with that. They have a big problem with that. Maybe they would in fact be better off if they defend themselves from North Korea," Trump said.
"With nukes?" Fox News' Chris Wallace asked.
"Including with nukes, yes. Including with nukes," Trump said.
Despite the criticism, Trump holds a roughly 200-delegate lead over the rest of the GOP field. Trump is expected to win the upcoming New York primary by a wide margin.
This video includes clips from Arirang, Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. and images from Getty Images.
