Trump Expresses Desire to Meet Kim Jong Un Again This Year
U.S. President Donald Trump has said he wants to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un before the end of this year. He made the statement during his summit with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung at the White House, stressing that his personal relationship with Kim remains strong. Trump recalled their past summits in Singapore, Hanoi, and at the Korean Demilitarized Zone, claiming those meetings reduced tensions on the peninsula during his earlier term in office.
Balancing Diplomacy and Trade Talks
While the focus of the Oval Office discussions was trade and security between Washington and Seoul, Trump used the opportunity to highlight his desire for renewed dialogue with Pyongyang. He stated that the U.S. holds economic leverage over China and North Korea but insisted he preferred negotiation to confrontation. Trump’s remarks came as both the U.S. and South Korea extended a tariff truce, with Seoul pledging billions in U.S. investments, particularly in energy and manufacturing.
South Korea’s Role in Peace Efforts
President Lee welcomed Trump’s comments, saying that a fresh round of diplomacy with Pyongyang would help stabilise the Korean Peninsula. He urged the U.S. to take the lead in restarting peace talks that have stalled since 2019. In a lighter exchange, Lee joked about someday seeing a “Trump Tower” in North Korea or even a golf game with Kim, framing these as symbolic gestures of reconciliation.
Broader Implications
Analysts note that Trump’s renewed outreach signals a possible shift back to direct engagement with North Korea after years of stalemate. However, questions remain about Pyongyang’s willingness to resume dialogue, given its continued missile testing and deepening ties with Russia and China. The months ahead may determine whether the push for a Trump–Kim meeting materialises or remains another diplomatic possibility left unresolved.d more context?
