PYONGYANG, NORTH KOREA — North Korean officials expressed growing concern Tuesday that President Donald Trump’s recent compliments have seriously damaged the country’s carefully cultivated reputation as one of the world’s most terrifying nuclear dictatorships.
According to North Korean officials, Trump’s “unthreatening and respectful” comments were intended as a compliment but have instead created a major public-relations crisis for a regime that has spent decades cultivating an image of itself as an unpredictable, heavily armed menace capable of annihilating its enemies.
“This is extremely embarrassing,” said one senior North Korean propaganda official. “We have worked very hard to convince the world that we are dangerous. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to build a reputation as a terrifying nuclear dictatorship? And now the President of the United States is telling everybody we are respectful?”
Government officials reportedly held an emergency meeting in Pyongyang Monday to determine how to restore the country’s intimidating image, including launching another missile, issuing a threatening statement against the United States, and having Kim Jong Un glare angrily at a map for several hours.
North Korea has reportedly scheduled a series of missile tests for later this week in an effort to restore public confidence in its frightening reputation. Officials stressed, however, that the missiles will be launched in a completely respectful and unthreatening manner.
