Trump welcomes meeting with Kim Jong Un: I have a good relationship with him
Quick Look
US President Donald Trump hinted at the possibility of his meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, praising their personal relationship, despite the lack of progress in North Korea's denuclearization file after the failure of the 2019 Hanoi summit.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Trump and Kim held three high-profile meetings during Trump's first term, including summits in Singapore in 2018 and Hanoi in 2019, but negotiations collapsed in Hanoi over disagreements over the extent to which North Korea's nuclear program would be dismantled in exchange for the lifting of US sanctions.
Observers consider that Trump's statement is an indication of keeping the diplomatic track open between Washington and Pyongyang despite the differences over the North Korean nuclear program.
Trump's statements were quoted as saying to reporters: "I may meet with Kim Jong Un. That would be exciting, as I have a good relationship with him."
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These statements come in the context of Trump's attempts to revive contacts with Kim, based on the personal relationship that arose between them during his first term, when they held three prominent stages of communication, including two summits in Singapore in 2018 and Hanoi in 2019, then a meeting in the demilitarized zone between the two Koreas in June 2019.
But those meetings did not lead to a final agreement on dismantling North Korea's nuclear program, as negotiations faltered at the Hanoi summit due to disagreement over the scope of nuclear concessions required from Pyongyang in exchange for easing US sanctions.
In August 2026, Trump publicly renewed his desire to meet Kim during the year, while Pyongyang expressed reservations about resuming the talks without fundamental changes in American policy. North Korean statements indicated that a personal relationship alone is not enough to overcome differences related to US-South Korean military maneuvers and the nuclear file.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Trump and Kim Jong Un may hold a meeting during the current year 2026 if diplomatic conditions improve
Possible · Within months
Open Questions
- Will North Korea accept the resumption of talks without preconditions?
- What concessions might Washington be willing to make in a new round of negotiations?
- How will US-South Korean military maneuvers affect Pyongyang's decision to return to the negotiating table?
