Trump tweets Biden 'somewhat better' than 'rabid dog'

US President Donald Trump tweeted a rare, albeit backhanded, defence of his rival and Democratic front-runner for the 2020 election, Joe Biden after North Korea likened the former Vice President rabid dog" that should be "beaten to death".

"Mr. Chairman, Joe Biden may be sleepy and very slow, but he is not a 'rabid dog'. He is actually somewhat better than that, but I am the only one who can get you where you have to be. You should act quickly, get the deal done. See you soon," Trump tweeted on Sunday.

The tweet comes after Pyongyang's state-run Korean Central News Agency in an article on November 15 lashed out at Biden for denouncing the communist regime, saying: "Rabid dogs like Biden can hurt lots of people if they are allowed to run about. They must be beaten to death with a stick, before it is too late."

Trump's post was addressed to "Mr Chairman", an apparent reference to North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un.

It was not clear what drew the ire of North Korea, though Biden has been critical of the Trump-Kim summits this year and last, reports the BBC.

In response to the North Korean jibe, Biden said that he saw such insults "as a badge of honour".

In its article, KCNA called Biden as a "profiteer" who is greedy for power and "wandering about like a starving field dog".

In May, Pyongyang issued similar angry remarks at Biden and called him a "fool of low IQ" after he called leader Kim a "dictator and tyrant" during a campaign speech.