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In another controversial part of Kristi Noem's forthcoming book, she falsely claims she met Kim Jong Un

Questionable anecdote about Nikki Haley also arises

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem's forthcoming book falsely claims she met North Korean Dictator Kim Jong Un. A Noem spokesperson said the publisher will address "conflated world leader's names" before the book is published. File Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem's forthcoming book falsely claims she met North Korean Dictator Kim Jong Un. A Noem spokesperson said the publisher will address "conflated world leader's names" before the book is published. File Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI | License Photo

May 3 (UPI) -- In a forthcoming book by South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem that recounts her killing her dog, the Republican governor is untruthful about having met North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, according to the New York Post.

The Post confirmed Friday that the meeting never happened.

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In a galley of the book obtained by the newspaper, Noem listed Kim Jong Un as one of the world leaders she met during her stint on the House Armed Services Committee between 2013 and 2015.

But the Post wrote that Kim Jong Un never left North Korea until 2018 and there are no records of Noem or any U.S. lawmaker ever traveling to North Korea during the period Noem specified in the book.

Noem spokesman Ian Fury said Thursday night, "We've been made aware that the publisher will be addressing conflated world leaders' names in the book before it is released."

Noem wrote in her book, "Through my tenure on the House Armed Services Committee," Noem wrote, "I had the chance to travel to many countries to meet with world leaders. I remember when I met with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. I'm sure he underestimated me, having no clue about my experience staring down little tyrants (I'd been a children's pastor, after all).

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According to Politico, Noem's book also contains a questionable anecdote about Nikki Haley. Noem recounts a phone call from Haley that offered support and mentoring and then turned into what Noem claims was a threat from Haley.

Haley spokesperson Chaney Denton told Politico he's befuddled about that claim. He said of Haley, "She called Gov. Noem in 2020 to encourage her when she was criticized for keeping her state open during Covid. How she would twist that into a threat is just plain weird."

On April 27, Noem defended shooting and killing her 14 month-old dog Cricket, a story she also tells in the yet to be published book.

She said, "We love animals, but tough decisions like this happen all the time on a farm."

The controversial aspects of Noem's forthcoming book haven't diminished her support among many Republicans.

In a Florida Politics report, Brevard Republican Party Chair Rick Lacey said Noem remains the keynote speaker for the organization's annual Lincoln/Reagan Dinner on May 25 despite any controversy from her book.

"Everybody is excited about hearing her and meeting her," Lacey said.

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