Trump Gives Offhand Reply to Reporter’s Question, Saying, "I Love South Korea"

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[Financial News] President Donald Trump gave an unrelated response when asked about a South Korean vessel that recently caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz, saying, "I love South Korea." Trump had previously claimed that the ship was attacked by Iran.
According to foreign media reports on the 9th, Trump met with reporters at the White House on the 8th (local time) and, when asked about the HMM bulk carrier HMM Namu, said, "I love South Korea."
At the time, reporters asked whether Trump had said the South Korean vessel was attacked by Iran, noting that Iran denied the allegation. Trump, however, gave an answer that was not directly related to the question. Some local observers said he may not have fully understood the question.
Earlier, on the 4th, Trump had claimed in connection with the fire on HMM Namu that the South Korean ship was attacked after acting alone rather than joining the United States-led effort to secure the Strait of Hormuz. He also mentioned a plan to use U.S. military power to free third-country vessels trapped in the strait, while stressing the need for South Korea to contribute to easing tensions there.
Iran, meanwhile, has denied allegations that it attacked the South Korean vessel. The Government of the Republic of Korea also said the exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined. A government investigation team boarded HMM Namu, which had been towed to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and began a full-scale probe into the cause.
Trump also spoke about the status of ceasefire talks with Iran. When asked whether the United States had received Iran's response to its demands, he said, "We will probably receive Iran's letter tonight," adding, "We will see how it goes."
The United States and Iran have remained in a ceasefire since the 7th of last month. A first high-level meeting held later that month ended without any major breakthrough, but backchannel talks have continued with mediation from Pakistan.
The United States is reportedly demanding that Iran suspend uranium enrichment for 20 years and gradually reopen the Strait of Hormuz as conditions for ending the conflict. United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio also told reporters during a visit to Italy on the same day that he hoped Iran would make a serious proposal within hours.
en1302@fnnews.com Jang In-seo Reporter