Trump open to meeting Kim Jong Un during South Korea visit

US President Donald Trump expressed readiness to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his visit to South Korea this week, saying he remains open to dialogue if Kim wishes to engage. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route from Malaysia to Japan, Trump said, “I’d love to meet him if he’d like to meet. I got along great with Kim Jong Un. If he wants to meet, I’ll be in South Korea.”

Possible extension of Asia trip

When asked if he might extend his Asia tour to accommodate such a meeting, Trump replied, “I haven’t thought of it, but I think the answer would be, yeah.” His remarks came as part of his broader diplomatic outreach across the region, where the US is seeking to reaffirm ties with key Asian partners amid ongoing security challenges on the Korean Peninsula.

Previous meetings and nuclear tensions

The two leaders last met in 2019 at the demilitarized zone (DMZ) separating North and South Korea, a symbolic moment that marked the last direct contact between Washington and Pyongyang. Despite the collapse of formal nuclear talks since then, Trump has occasionally spoken positively about his personal rapport with Kim.

North Korea’s stance and upcoming agenda

North Korea has previously stated that new dialogue could only take place if Washington recognizes the country’s nuclear capability, which Pyongyang insists is “irreversible.” Trump’s visit to South Korea will include a meeting with President Lee Jae Myung and participation in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit events. He is also expected to hold a high-level meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, a session likely to address regional stability and denuclearization efforts.