The former director of national intelligence for Barack Obama has dismissed Donald Trump’s claims that the former president was “begging” to meet Kim Jong-un.

James Clapper laughed after he was shown a clip of Mr Trump telling reporters that Mr Obama’s requests to meet with the North Korean leader were refused.

Speaking on CNN’s State of the Union programme on Sunday morning, Mr Clapper said: "I don't know where he's getting that.

“In all the deliberations that I participated in on North Korea during the Obama administration, I can recall no instance whatever where president Obama ever indicated any interest whatsoever in meeting with chairman Kim. That's news to me.”

Later in the interview, Mr Clapper acknowledged that Mr Trump’s visit to North Korea was “a great historic moment” as he became the first US president to enter the country.

North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary Show all 18 1 /18 North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary Participants wave flowers AFP/Getty North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un (R) waves with China's Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Li Zhanshu (L) from a balcony AFP/Getty North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary Airplanes forming the number 70 fly in formation and fire flares AP North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary North Korean performers dance EPA North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary North Korean military officers applaud near portraits of late North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il AP North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary North Korean tanks roll past AP North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary Participants cheer as they take part in a parade for the 70th anniversary of North Korea's founding day in Pyongyang, North Korea, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018. North Korea staged a major military parade, huge rallies and will revive its iconic mass games on Sunday to mark its 70th anniversary as a nation. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Ng Han Guan AP North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary Korean People's Army (KPA) soldiers take part AFP/Getty North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary Korean People's Army (KPA) soldiers march AFP/Getty North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary Participants march during a mass rally on Kim Il Sung square in Pyongyang AFP/Getty North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary A girl reacts during a parade AP North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, reacts as he chats with China's third highest ranking official, Li Zhanshu AP North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary People carry flags in front of statues of North Korea founder Kim Il Sung (L) and late leader Kim Jong Il Reuters North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary Performers take part in a concert at the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium AFP/Getty North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary North Korean artillery roll past AP North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary Students perform Reuters North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary Soldiers march during a military parade Reuters North Korea military parade celebrating nation's 70th anniversary Participants wave flowers AFP/Getty

But the former intelligence chief, who also served under president George W Bush, said he did not think the US president’s visit was a breakthrough moment in nuclear talks between the two countries.

“I personally don’t believe the North Koreans have long term any intent to denuclearise,” he said. “Why should they? It’s their ticket to survival, and they’re just not going to do that.

An hour after meeting with Mr Kim on Sunday, Mr Trump told reporters: "President Obama wanted to meet and Chairman Kim would not meet him.

"The Obama administration was begging for a meeting — they were begging for meetings, constantly and Chairman Kim would not meet with him, and for some reason we have a certain chemistry or whatever."

Mr Trump’s claim was also disputed by Mr Obama’s deputy national security adviser.

“Trump is lying. I was there for all 8 years. Obama never sought a meeting with Kim Jong Un,” Ben Rhodes tweeted.