Trump Hopes to Meet with Kim Jong Un as Early as This Fall — Media Reports
U.S. President Donald Trump is urging his aides to explore the possibility of a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as early as this fall. The Wall Street Journal reported this, citing U.S. officials; the Korea Herald reported on the story.
According to the publication, Trump discussed a possible meeting with Kim Jong Un during his planned trip to Asia. November is cited as one possible date, when the leaders are set to gather in Shenzhen, China, for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
At the same time, formal preparations for the summit have not yet begun, the WSJ notes. Reports of possible contacts with Pyongyang came amid increased engagement by Trump with North Korea and his more critical stance toward South Korea, a U.S. ally.
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Ahead of this year’s South Korea-U.S. military exercises, Ulchi Freedom Shield, Trump ordered the Pentagon to significantly scale back the maneuvers and stated that he has a very good relationship with Kim Jong Un. The exercises began on Monday and are scheduled to last until August 27; the participation of U.S. military personnel in them has reportedly been significantly reduced.
Trump and Kim Jong-un met three times during Trump’s first presidential term, including in Singapore in 2018 and in Hanoi in 2019. Those talks did not result in an agreement regarding North Korea’s nuclear program.
