WASHINGTON, August 19 – US President Donald Trump has expressed interest in holding a face-to-face meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and has instructed his administration to explore arrangements for such talks, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
Possible Trump-Kim Summit Could Take Place During November APEC Visit to China
According to the report, Trump has discussed with his advisers whether a meeting with Kim could be arranged during his next trip to Asia. Trump is expected to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China, in November, raising the possibility that the two leaders could meet on the sidelines of the event.
However, no formal arrangements for a Trump-Kim summit are currently underway, the newspaper reported.
Trump reportedly views a meeting with Kim as an opportunity to revive dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang and potentially persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons programme. However, some experts and US officials remain sceptical that talks between the two leaders would produce significant progress.
A White House official said Trump and Kim would meet “at the appropriate time.”
Trump also sought a meeting with Kim during his Asia trip in 2025. Pyongyang had signalled an interest at the time, but the two sides were unable to resolve logistical issues, particularly security arrangements, within the limited time available.
Trump Praises Kim Amid Tensions With Seoul
The latest development comes amid renewed tensions between Washington and Seoul. On August 17, Trump made critical remarks about South Korea and directed the Pentagon to substantially reduce long-standing joint military exercises with the country.
Trump cited the cost of the exercises and South Korea’s reluctance to participate alongside the United States against Iran as reasons for the move.
In the same post, Trump praised Kim, saying that since returning to office for his second term, North Korea—despite being a nuclear-armed state—had not posed a threat to the United States. Trump also said he had developed a mutual understanding with the North Korean leader.
Trump met Kim three times during his first presidential term. Despite those meetings, however, there was little lasting progress in North Korea’s political stance or in relations between Pyongyang and Washington.
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