US: Trump won't discuss reappearance of North Korean leader

President Donald Trump refused to comment Friday evening on reports that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has made his first public appearance in 20 days amid rumors about his health.

"I'd rather not comment on it yet," Trump told reporters as he departed the White House for a working weekend in Camp David. "We'll have something to say about it at the appropriate time."

Asked if he would at least confirm that Kim is alive, Trump said, "I don't want to talk about it."

North Korean state media says Kim attended a ceremony marking the completion of a fertilizer factory near Pyongyang with other senior officials, including his sister, Kim Yo Jong.

Speculation about his health swirled after he missed the April 15 celebration of the birthday of his late grandfather and state founder, Kim Il Sung, the country's most important holiday.

Trump was also coy about comments he made Thursday when he said he was considering placing additional tariffs on China as a punishment for its handling of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

"We're not happy, obviously, with what happened," Trump said. "But we'll be having a lot to say about that. It's certainly an option."

The president also reversed course about the economic reopening of Georgia this week, insisting he think's it's "wonderful."

A week ago, Trump said at a White House coronavirus task force briefing that he was "not happy" with Gov. Brian Kemp's decision to start reopening businesses amid the pandemic.