NBC News correspondent Keir Simmons told MSNBC's "Morning Joe" Thursday that the program is watched by senior North Korean officials to learn about the United States.
"President Donald Trump's rhetoric is having a profound effect," Simmons told co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. He also said that the country's vice foreign minister believes that North Korea and the U.S. are "on the brink of war."
He then mentioned his interview with a senior North Korean lieutenant colonel, who "quite plainly said he believes President Trump is mentally ill, and he was unequivocal in saying he believes North Korea could win a war with America.
"Be it no doubt that the senior officials here pay attention to what is being said in the U.S.," he continued. "One telling me that he watches 'Morning Joe' every day specifically for the segments about North Korea."
"I asked that official, who is the father of a young son, 'are you frightened for your family?'" Simmons recounted.
"He said, 'All my life I have felt threatened by America, and if there is a war, a nuclear war,' he said he believes that North Korea and the North Koreans could survive that."
Brzezinski said after Simmons' report that North Korean officials "are saying what a lot of people are thinking, that the president is mentally ill. It's considered inappropriate to say."
To which Scarborough replied, "I was going to say, Mika, you've got a mind-meld with some people in North Korea."
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