Trump said he plans to meet with Kim Jong Un by the end of the year
U.S. President Donald Trump said he plans to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un by the end of 2026. He told reporters at the White House that he plans to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un by the end of 2026, emphasizing the importance of maintaining good relations with the North Korean leader.
Trump also stated that Pyongyang possesses 57 nuclear weapons, which he described as very powerful. The U.S. does not officially recognize North Korea as a nuclear power. At the same time, the president’s estimate is consistent with previous assessments by the U.S. government and think tanks, which estimated North Korea’s arsenal at 50–60 weapons.
Trump did not provide any details regarding a possible meeting. According to France 24, The Wall Street Journal reported that he is considering the possibility of negotiations during his trip to Shenzhen, China, for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in November.
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During his first term as president, Trump met with Kim Jong Un three times. Their last meeting took place in 2019, but the talks did not yield tangible results regarding North Korea’s nuclear program.
In recent days, Trump also announced a reduction in joint U.S.-South Korea military exercises, which he called “hostile.” According to him, such exercises are “very offensive” to Kim Jong Un. Seoul reported that the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield maneuvers will end about a week earlier at the suggestion of the U.S. side. The Pentagon stated that this would not hinder the achievement of training objectives.
The North Korean leader’s sister, Kim Yo-jong, said she was unaware of reports regarding contacts between her brother and Trump. At the same time, she said that Kim Jong-un has fond memories of the U.S. president. In 2024, North Korea deployed troops in support of Russia, the aggressor state, in the war against Ukraine and signed a mutual defense treaty with Moscow.
