Trump Open to Meeting Kim Jong Un During Asia Trip, Calls North Korea Nuclear Power

President Donald Trump expressed his openness to meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his upcoming visit to South Korea. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump emphasized that he is “open” to the possibility of a meeting at the demilitarized zone (DMZ). He stated, “I’d be open to it, 100%. I got along very well with him.”

Trump’s comments came as he departed for Asia on November 3, 2023, where he is scheduled to visit multiple countries including Malaysia and Japan. He acknowledged the limited communication capabilities in North Korea, noting, “They don’t have a lot of telephone service,” before referring to the country as “sort of a nuclear power.”

The president’s remarks highlight his willingness to engage in dialogue with North Korea, which has been a central theme during his previous term in office. A White House official reiterated that while Trump remains willing to talk with Kim, no meeting is currently scheduled for this trip. “U.S. policy on North Korea has not changed,” the official stated.

South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-young urged both leaders to “make a bold decision,” emphasizing the importance of continued dialogue. According to reports from Reuters, this statement reflects the broader desire for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

During his first term, Trump held three significant summits with Kim, which aimed to stabilize relations between the two countries. The first summit took place in Singapore in June 2018, marking the first face-to-face meeting between a sitting U.S. president and a North Korean leader. A joint statement from that meeting expressed a commitment to establishing new U.S.-DPRK relations.

In February 2019, Trump and Kim met again in Hanoi, Vietnam, but the summit ended without a formal agreement. Later, in June 2019, Trump made history by becoming the first sitting U.S. president to enter North Korean territory during a meeting in the DMZ. At that time, Trump indicated that he and Kim had agreed to revive discussions regarding North Korea’s nuclear program, stressing the importance of getting the negotiations right rather than rushing for a swift deal.

As Trump embarks on this week-long trip, the dialogue with North Korea remains a focal point of international attention. He is also set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the APEC Summit on November 9, 2023, further showcasing the interconnected nature of U.S. foreign relations in the region.

The outcomes of these meetings could significantly influence future discussions regarding North Korea’s nuclear capabilities and the ongoing efforts to stabilize the Korean Peninsula.