BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 19. US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he plans to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un later this year, signaling the possibility of renewed high-level diplomacy between Washington and Pyongyang.
Trump did not provide details about when or where the proposed meeting could take place. He made the remarks while speaking to reporters during a tour of the White House grounds.
The US president also referred to North Korea’s nuclear arsenal, claiming that Kim possesses “57 very powerful nuclear weapons.” Trump argued that North Korea should never have been allowed to develop such capabilities.
His comments come after a recent decision to scale back some joint US-South Korean military exercises. The drills have long been strongly opposed by Pyongyang, which regards them as preparations for a potential military confrontation.
Trump also emphasized his personal relationship with the North Korean leader, saying that he gets along with Kim “very well.” The White House did not immediately provide additional details about the potential meeting.
Trump held several unprecedented meetings with Kim during his first presidential term. In 2019, he became the first sitting US president to step into North Korea when he crossed the military demarcation line at the Korean Demilitarized Zone alongside Kim.
Meanwhile, Kim Yo Jong, the North Korean leader’s sister, said Pyongyang’s position toward Washington had not changed despite the reduction in military exercises. She said Kim retains positive personal memories of Trump but argued that US policy toward North Korea remains hostile.
