Trump: You’ve got to give that ‘maniac’ in North Korea some credit…

US presidential hopeful Donald Trump has said the North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un deserves “credit” for wiping out his rivals. The outspoken Republican candidate said it was “incredible” how the leader of the totalitarian communist regime had consolidated his grip on power. Mr Kim has carried out a series of purges since taking over in 2011 following the death of his father. "You’ve got to give him credit,“ said Mr Trump. "How many young guys - he was like 26 or 25 when his father died - take over these tough generals, and all of a sudden - you know, it’s pretty amazing when you think of it.”

If you look at North Korea, this guy, he’s like a maniac. OK?

Donald Trump n Kim Jong-un

He went on: “Even though it is a culture, and it’s a cultural thing, he goes in, he takes over, he’s the boss. It’s incredible. He wiped out the uncle, he wiped out this one, that one. This guy doesn’t play games and we can’t play games with him.” Kim’s cictims have included his own uncle, Jang Song Thaek, who was executed for alleged treason in 2013. Last year, he is said to have had ordered his then-defence chief, Hyon Yong Chol, to be killed with an anti-aircraft gun for falling asleep in a meeting. Trump’s remarks come amid heightened tensions between North and South Korea after Pyongyang claimed it had successfully tested a hydrogen bomb.