“I am meeting with many people. It’s hard to say for certain, but I would like to meet him this year,” President Trump responded on August 25 in the Oval Office when asked by a reporter about the timing of a potential meeting with Kim Jong-un.
President Trump praised the personal rapport he shares with Kim Jong-un, describing the two as “highly compatible.” He also characterized North Korea as a nation with “immense strength and enormous potential.”
North Korean officials have not commented on the report. Trump made these remarks while hosting South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, who commended Trump for helping the U.S. not only maintain but also build peace on the Korean Peninsula.
“I look forward to your meeting with Kim Jong-un, building a Trump Tower in North Korea, and playing golf there,” President Lee said. “Kim Jong-un will be waiting for you.”
Following the White House meeting, President Lee stated that he and Trump agreed to continue “efforts toward peaceful denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.” During his tenure from 2017 to 2021, Trump sought direct engagement with Kim Jong-un, holding three face-to-face meetings in 2018 and 2019. Even after leaving office, Trump has repeatedly referenced the strong personal connection he maintains with the North Korean leader.
In late July, Kim Yo-jong, North Korea’s senior foreign policy official, affirmed that the personal relationship between Kim Jong-un and President Trump “is not bad.” However, she cautioned that it “would be ridiculous” for Washington to attempt to exploit this personal rapport to end Pyongyang’s nuclear program.