John Bolton, seen here in August 2019, is speaking out about North Korea after leaving as President Donald Trump's national security advisor
John Bolton, seen here in August 2019, is speaking out about North Korea after leaving as President Donald Trump's national security advisor AFP / Sergei GAPON

John Bolton has made some startling remarks since being fired by President Donald Trump two weeks ago. The former national security adviser disagrees with his former bosses' assessment of Pyongyang, adding that the hermit country is not willing to surrender its nuclear program.

In his first public statement since being fired, Bolton said that Kim Jong Un "would do whatever he can" to keep his nuclear arms. He added that under the current situation, Kim would "never give up their nuclear weapons voluntarily."

The former adviser said his comments at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank in Washington. With his new statements, Bolton broke off from his pro-Trump tone just a few months ago.

President Trump has earlier said that his strategy is working, proved by Pyongyang's recent inactivity of nuclear and long-range missile tests. However, Bolton disagrees, claiming that North Korea stopped the demonstrations because the technology is now in place.

In June, Trump said that Kim Jong Un has "Kept his word" by toning down his anti-US rhetoric and ceasing further nuclear arms testing. Bolton strongly contradicts the POTUS' statements, saying that Pyongyang failed to deliver its commitments.

Bolton did acknowledge that he is now speaking as a private individual. He said that he's "delighted to be here today," adding he can now talk about the hermit country in "unvarnished terms."

The former US ambassador also said that he isn't a big fan of how the President's approach to Iran, North Korea and Afghanistan. Bolton stated his sentiments at a private event hosted by Gatestone Institute in New York earlier this month.

An attendee noted that the former staffer "didn't have anything positive to say about Trump." Bolton's "Libya model" for denuclearization earned Trump's wrath last year, possibly because it might derail his diplomatic efforts with Kim.

He raised it again during his speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Bolton is also not a fan of inviting the Taliban to Camp David because it's "disrespectful" to the victims of the 911 bombings.

The former national adviser and the POTUS got into a heated argument after Trump revealed the plans. An insider told the media that Bolton did not back down in the exchange. A senior official confirmed that the fiery debate took place in the Oval Office at the end of a meeting.

President Trump allegedly asked Bolton for resignation afterward.