Trump says he plans to meet Kim Jong-un this year, citing ‘excellent’ relationship

Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he intends to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un later this year, despite Pyongyang's denial of direct communication between the two leaders. During a press briefing, Trump stated, "Yeah, I will be," without providing specifics about the location or timing of the meeting. The Wall Street Journal reports that Trump is considering a visit to Shenzhen for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in November as a potential venue for the encounter.

This would be the first meeting between the two leaders since Trump returned to the White House and marks his latest effort to rekindle the personal diplomacy that characterized his approach to North Korea during his first term.

Trump provided an unusually specific estimate of the size of North Korea's nuclear arsenal, claiming Kim possesses 57 "very powerful" nuclear weapons. He criticized North Korea for failing to "allow it" and stated, "If I were president, I wouldn't have allowed it." Estimates of the country's nuclear stockpile range from about 60 warheads, as reported by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, to at least 30 more, according to fissile material production.

Trump defended his willingness to engage with a nuclear-armed North Korea, stating, "I can't let Iran have a nuclear weapon," and noted his familiarity with Kim, saying, "I know Kim Jong-un very well, and he's going to be fine as long as we have a smart president." He emphasized the positive aspect of their relationship, adding, "The fact that I get along with him – that's a good thing, not a bad thing."

Following his announcement, Trump also decided to reduce joint military exercises with South Korea, describing the exercises as sending an "inappropriate and hostile" message to Pyongyang. The US president cited his relationship with Kim and South Korea's perceived lack of support for the US war with Iran as reasons for the decision.

However, North Korea rejected the move and denied reports of renewed direct communication between Trump and Kim, with Kim Yo-jong, the leader's sister, stating, "The relationship between the two leaders remains excellent." She also argued that reducing the size or duration of the military exercises would not change North Korea's perception of their provocative nature, dismissing the US decision as an "act of goodwill."