Harsh comments about the US President from leading South Korean candidates

Donald Trump is making enemies in North Korea but he's also having a tough time finding friends in South Korea.

On April 9, President Trump said "we're sending an armada" to the Korean Peninsula. "Look, we have ships headed there," Trump said to the WSJ on April 12. He even used the plural 'aircraft carriers' at one point.

The comments were meant to intimidate North Korea and reassure the South but it was either a bluff or a blunder.

The single aircraft carrier along with a support group he was talking about went in the opposite direction after the comment and has continued into the Indian ocean where it remains.

After completing exercises it will actually head towards Korea and arrive their some time next week.

On the surface it sounds like a misguided comment from an overly-eager President but the reaction in South Korea shows how delicate Presidential words must be treated.

"The 50 million South Koreans, as well as many common-sensical people around the world, cannot help but feel embarrassed and shocked," said Young Kwan-suk, spokesman of the main opposition Democratic Party, which is leading polls ahead of the May 9 presidential election.

Another candidate Hong Joon-pyo was more blunt, telling The Wall Street Journal that "If that was a lie, then during Trump's term, South Korea will not trust whatever Trump says."​