Kim Jong-un joins world leaders wishing Trump speedy recovery

Mr Trump said on Friday that he had contracted Covid-19

President Donald Trump gives a thumbs-up as he leaves the White House to go to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. AP Photo

President Donald Trump salutes as he boards Marine One as he leaves the White House. AP Photo

Members of the US Secret Service wear protective masks as Marine One, with U.S. President Donald Trump on board, departs the South Lawn of the White House. Bloomberg

President Donald Trump arrives at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. AP Photo

US President Donald Trump waves from the presidential motorcade while arriving at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Bloomberg

President Donald Trump boards Marine One. AP Photo

The memorandum from White House physician Sean Conley to White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany with information about President Donald Trump being moved to Walter reed National Military Medical Center and the decision to initiate Remdesivir therapy. AP Photo

US President Donald Trump walks on the South Lawn of the White House before boarding Marine One. Bloomberg

US President Donald Trump makes an announcement after he and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for the coronavirus. Reuters

Marine One helicopter, with President Donald Trump aboard, lifts off from the South Lawn of the White House. AP Photo

President Donald Trump arrives at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. AP Photo

Members of the media and general public watch as President Donald Trump arrives at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. AP Photo

The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Bloomberg

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Saturday joined world leaders sending messages of sympathy to President Donald Trump and his wife Melania, wishing them a speedy recovery from the Covid-19 illness.

Mr Trump said Friday he and his wife had tested positive for the coronavirus, and leaders across the world have sent messages of goodwill to the couple.

“He sincerely hoped that they would recover as soon as possible. He hoped they will surely overcome it,” the Korean Central News Agency said of Mr KIm. “He sent warm greetings to them.”

This marks the first time Kim has sent a message to a world leader who tested positive for the novel coronavirus, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency.

Mr Kim and Mr Trump once exchanged threats of destruction and crude insults after North Korea in 2017 carried out a series of high-profile weapons tests aimed at acquiring the ability to launch nuclear strikes on the US mainland.

But they stopped such rhetoric and instead developed a personal relationship after Mr Kim abruptly reached out to Mr Trump in 2018 for talks on the fate of his advancing nuclear arsenal although little progress has been made despite several meetings.

The UAE's Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, sent a message to the US president wishing him and his wife well.

"Our best wishes go out to US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, and we hope for their speedy recovery. Together the world will overcome the Covid-19 pandemic," he wrote.

Others to reach out included Russian President Vladimir Putin, the head of the UN and WHO, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and others.

"I am convinced that your vitality, good spirits and optimism will help you cope with this dangerous virus," the Kremlin quoted Mr Putin as saying.

"Of course, we wish President Trump a speedy and easy recovery," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists.

"My sincere wishes for a speedy recovery to US President Donald Trump and the First Lady," Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi said.

He said he wanted the couple to "quickly overcome this stage and return to complete health and wellness to resume leading the valued US efforts to combat this virus worldwide".

King Abdullah II said he was "wishing US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania a speedy and full recovery. Jordan is keen to continue working with the US and other partners to counter COVID-19 and its implications around the world".

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres "sends his best wishes to President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for a quick and complete recovery," his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wished the couple "a full and speedy recovery".

Mr Trump is pulling the United States out of the UN health agency, accusing it of mishandling the coronavirus pandemic and being too close to China.

"Wishing @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS a speedy recovery. Covid-19 is a battle we all continue to fight. Everyday. No matter where we live," European Union chief Charles Michel said in a tweet, referring also to the First Lady of the United States.

"My best wishes to President Trump and the First Lady," British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted. "Hope they both have a speedy recovery from coronavirus."

Mr Johnson himself spent three nights in intensive care in April after contracting Covid-19.

"Dear Donald, My best wishes to you and Melania as you are now fighting the virus together. Brigitte and I think of you both and express our most friendly support. Stay strong and keep going," French President Emmanuel Macron said in a message in English.

Addressing the first lady as "my dearest Melania", Brigitte Macron added: "... please accept my warmest wishes for a prompt recovery. I know you both are strong and will prevail".

"I send Donald and Melania Trump all my good wishes," Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert tweeted on her behalf.

"I hope that they recover well from their corona infection and will be quite healthy again soon."

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said: "I wish a full & swift recovery to @realdonaldtrump & @FLOTUS. #COVID19 is a worldwide pandemic which we all need to fight together."

"My best wishes to @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS. I hope they both have a speedy recovery from COVID-19," the alliance's chief Jens Stoltenberg said.

Canadian President Justin Trudeau tweeted: "Sophie and I are sending our best wishes to @POTUSTrump and @FLOTUS. We hope you both get well soon and have a full recovery from this virus."

"Wishing my friend @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS a quick recovery and good health," Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Twitter.

"Like millions of Israelis, Sara and I are thinking of President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump and wish our friends a full and speedy recovery," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

"Together with the people of the Republic of Korea, my wife and I wish you and the First Lady a speedy recovery. We would also like to convey our sincere words of encouragement and support to your family and the people of the United States of America," President Moon Jae-in said.

"Our good wishes for a speedy recovery to our Friends @realDonaldTrump and @FLOTUS. #Poland and #USA will get through the hardships and succeed in fighting #COVID19," Polish President Andrzej Duda tweeted.

In Africa, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa tweeted: "My best wishes to President Trump @realdonaldtrump and the First Lady @FLOTUS as they make a full recovery from COVID-19."

In South America, Colombian President Ivan Duque tweeted: "With the news they have tested positive for #COVID19, we express our solidarity with the president of the United States, @realDonaldTrump and the First Lady, @MELANIATRUMP. We wish them a quick recovery."

The Guatemalan government tweeted: "The @GuatemalaGob wishes President Donald Trump @POTUS and the First Lady Melania Trump @FLOTUS, a speedy recovery of #COVID19".