especially given the words

[novar]

Can I say this?
North Korea is a hot issue in US poltics.
This applies especially given the words of the current president.

 

[teechar]

You can, but consider also "hot topic."

https://books.google.com/ngrams/gra...rect_url=t1;,hot issue;,c0;.t1;,hot topic;,c0