 |
| Donald Trump |
US President Donald Trump has held his first news briefing since he was ridiculed for suggesting disinfectant might be worth considering as a treatment for Covid-19. Speaking at the White House, he suggested he may seek damages from China over the coronavirus outbreak which began in the Chinese city of Wuhan last year and spread around the world.
Mr Trump said
we are not happy with China, we are not happy with that whole situation because we believe it could have been stopped at the source. It could have been stopped quickly and it wouldn't have spread all over the world
There are a lot of ways you can hold them accountable. We're doing some very serious investigations as you probably know.We haven't determined the final amount yet. It's very substantial. This is worldwide damage. This is damage to the US, but this is damage to the world.
There have been more than 56,000 coronavirus-related deaths in the United States and the pandemic has shut down huge swathes of the economy, leaving tens of millions unemployed. Mr Trump also addressed the mystery over the health and whereabouts of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, and appeared to say he is alive, saying he wished him well. Asked if he had new information about Kim Jong-un's health, Mr Trump said "yes, I do have a very good idea, but I can't talk about it now. I just wish him well.
Speaking at a White House press conference,
I hope he's fine,I do know how he's doing, relatively speaking. Mr Trump said the media would "probably be hearing in the not-too-distant future" about Mr Kim.
I hope he's fine,I do know how he's doing, relatively speaking. Mr Trump said the media would "probably be hearing in the not-too-distant future" about Mr Kim.
Conjecture has grown since Mr Kim's conspicuous no-show at 15 April celebrations for the birthday of his grandfather Kim Il Sung, the North's founder - the most important day in the country's political calendar.
Mr Kim has not made a public appearance since 11 April.
Amid media reports that he was ill and speculation that he might even have died, a top security adviser to South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Sunday that Kim was in fact "alive and well".