North Korean Official: Trump's Suggestions 'Absurd and Illogical'

Donald Trump's suggestions for South Korea and Japan to arm themselves with nuclear weapons and for the United States military to withdraw from those countries are "absurd and illogical," a North Korean official says.

"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 its allies to have nuclear weapons? Isn't this a double standard?" the official, Ri Jong Ryul, deputy-director general of the Institute of International Studies in Pyongyang, told CNN in a rare interview.

Officially, Pyongyang has not responded to the remarks, but released propaganda with an imitation of late President Abraham Lincoln to scold President Barack Obama on nuclear policy.

On Friday, North Korea failed in an attempt to launch a missile on the birthday of its founder, a day after South Korea said the regime might fire a ballistic device believed to be capable of reaching Guam. 

But Ri told CNN that he believes Trump's plans are dangerous and show a "deeper look at America's hostile policy against my country."

"Simply put, America's hostile acts against us are making the situation on the Korean peninsula worse," said Ri, warning that such a policy could increase his country's nuclear plans.

Ri, a longtime diplomat and former ambassador, studies American politics and runs a Pyongyang think tank monitoring global events, and reports to North Korea's leaders. He is reportedly one of just a few North Koreans who are able to use the Internet.

State media does not cover the United States' presidential campaigns. Ri said his nation's leaders are not really interested in who becomes the next president, as "whether Republicans or Democrats take power, it has nothing to do with us. American politicians have always had a hostile policy against (North) Korea."

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