(Image source from: slate.com)

The United States President Donald Trump got mushy during a mass meeting in West Virginia where he proclaimed his love for North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, who seemingly has a way with words.

"I was really tough and so was he, and we went back and forth," Trump told fans in Wheeling, West Virginia. "Then we fell in love, OK? No, really, he wrote me beautiful letters, and they're great letters. We fell in love."

It's been a love-hate relationship amid the two unconventional leaders. When Trump took office in 2016, he commended Kim for having the acuity to take control of the government that had earlier been ruled by his father Kim Jong Il from 1994 to 2011.

"This is not somebody to be underestimated," Trump warned. However, his adoration for Kim diminished after a series of nuclear tests in 2017.

"He has been very threatening," Trump said, putting Kim on notice that aggression toward the U.S. would "be met with fire, fury and frankly power, the likes of which this world has never seen before."

Kim warned Trump regarding that kind of fiery rhetoric, vowing to "tame the mentally deranged the U.S. dotard with fire."

Trump tweeted that he had advised Secretary of State Tillerson not to even bother dealing with "Little Rocket Man."

There were additional insults where Kim implied Trump, then days from his 71st birthday, was old. Trump responded by commenting on Kim's height and weight.

However, both the leaders had a change of heart in 2018 and their relationship flourished.

North Korea and the U.S. announced that two presidents would meet in Singapore in the spring. But unfortunately, Trump got cold feet after Kim got a bit grumpy about giving up his weapons.

"I was very much looking forward to being there with you. Sadly, based on the tremendous anger and open hostility displayed in your most recent statement, I feel it is inappropriate, at this time, to have this long-planned meeting," Trump said in a letter.

The two made amends and that historic meeting ultimately took place on July 12. It was the first time a U.S. President had met a North Korean head of state.

Kim agreed to consider denuclearizing his rogue nation and Trump assured in return that he would provide "security guarantees."

Before that meeting happened, Trump boasted that Kim has allured him with a "very interesting letter" that turned into a two-hour conversation between North Korean and U.S. emissaries "because we found the whole subject matter really interesting."

The White House later confessed that the President had not read the letter.

By Sowmya Sangam